CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
([Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Hiatorical  Mieroraproductiona  /  Inatitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibfiographicaliy  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  Images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


a 


Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged  / 
Couverture  endommag^e 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculie 

.  Cover  tKle  missing  /  Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)  / 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


0 


r~7[  Cotoured  plates  and/or  illustrations  / 


D 
D 
D 


D 


D 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material  / 
Relii  avec  d'autres  documents 

Only  editton  available  / 
Seule  ddltton  disponible 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion  along 
interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de 
I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorslon  le  long  de  la  marge 
intirieure. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restorations  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have  been 
omitted  from  filming  /  Use  peut  que  ceriaines  pages 
blanches  ajoutdes  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texte,  mais,  lorsque  cela  itait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  6\6  film^es. 

Additional  comments  / 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
6X4  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
plaire qui  sont  peut-6tre  unk)ues  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographk)ue.  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  Image  reproduite. 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modificatkMi  dans  la  m^tho- 
de  normale  de  f  ilmage  sont  indk)uds  d-dessous. 

I     I  Coloured  pages  /  Pages  de  couleur 

I     I  Pages  damaged/ Pages  endomnrag^s 

□  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Pages  restaurtes  et/ou  pellicul^s 

0  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
Pages  66co\oi6es,  tachet^es  ou  piques 

I     I  Pages  detached  /  Pages  ddtach^es 

[/[  Showthrough/ Transparence 

I — I  Quality  of  print  varies  / 


D 
D 


D 


Oualitd  in^gale  de  I'lmpresston 

Includes  supplementary  material  / 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata  slips, 
tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  totalement  ou 
pariiellement  obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une 
pelure.  etc..  ont  6\6  ftlm^es  k  nouveau  de  fa^on  k 
obtsnir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 

Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
discotourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the  best 
possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant  ayant  des 
colorations  variables  ou  des  decolorations  sont 
film^es  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la  meilleure  image 
possible. 


This  Ittm  It  fllmtd  it  iht  riduction  ratio  chtcktd  bilow  / 

C«  docuRMnt  tst  fllmi  au  taux  dt  riduction  indlqu*  el-dtiioui. 


lOx 


14X 


18X 


d\ 


12x 


16x 


20x 


22x 


26x 


30x 


24x 


28x 


32x 


Th*  ee^  film«d  h«r«  has  bMii  raproduead  thanks 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'axamplaira  lilmA  fut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
04n4rosit«  da: 

Bibliothiqpia  nationala  du  Canada 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  a/a  tha  baat  quality 
poaaitola  eonaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  originaJ  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
fHming  contract  apacif icatiena. 


Original  copiaa  in  printod  paper  covara  ara  flimad 
baginning  with  tha  front  cover  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
alon.  or  tho  Itack  cover  whon  appropriate.  AH 
other  original  copiaa  ara  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  pege  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa* 
aion.  and  ending  on  the  leat  page  with  e  printed 
or  illuetrated  impresaion. 


Las  images  suivantes  ont  M  reproduites  avac  la 
plua  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  reaemplaira  film*,  et  an 
conformity  avac  lea  conditions  du  contrst  do 
fUmage. 

Lea  aaempleiree  erigineua  dont  la  couvorturt  an 
pepier  eet  imprimOe  som  filmOs  en  eemmancant 
per  le  premier  plot  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
damiire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Toua  lea  autres  esemplairas 
origineua  sent  flimds  en  commencant  par  la 
pramiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
dimpreaaion  ou  d'illuatration  at  an  terminant  par 
la  damiire  paga  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  leat  recorded  frame  on  eech  microfiche 
shell  contain  the  symbol  ^^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"). 
whichever  appliea. 


Un  dea  symboles  suivonts  spparaftra  sur  la 
demiire  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbde  — ^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 


Mapa.  platea.  charts,  etc..  mey  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  expoaura  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  comer,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  ss 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illuatrata  the 
method: 


Lea  cartea.  planchea.  ubiaaux.  etc..  pauvant  itra 
filmia  A  dea  taua  de  rMuction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  itra 
reproduit  en  un  soul  clich*.  il  est  film*  *  psrtir 
de  I'angia  sup*rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  i  droite. 
et  de  haut  en  baa.  m\  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imegea  n*cessaire.  Lea  diagrammas  suivants 
iUuatrent  la  mOthode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

MldlOCOrV  nSOtUTION  tbt  chait 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


Li  |2j8 

UA    131 


IB 

IB 
U 


116 


2.0 


I 


1.8 


^    /APPLIED  IN/MGE    Inc 

^^        16S3  East  Main  Strmt 

RochOTttr,  N«w  York        U609      USA 
(716)  482  -  0300  -  Phon. 
(716)  28e-Me9-Fo» 


1^ 


» 


Portrait  of  Ray   T.ctvis  Jft.r  a   tainti,,.,   by  Joslnu,   Smith.    K.lt.A. 


SONGS  of  EARTH 

RAY  LEWIS 


NEW  YORK 

Albert  m  Charles  Boni 

1917 


A 


\ 


psssa3 


Copvwright  1916 
By  Ray  Levni 


.1 
s' 


CONTENTS 


The  Univerae  Sings  Her  Song.  .7 

I  Am  Of  The  Earth 9 

We  Are  In  A  World  Of  Action  13 

The    Resurrection    14 

Where  Shall  I  Find  My  God.  .15 
I  Am  Mad  With  The  Joy  Of  . . . 

Creation     Ig 

I  Am  Building 17 

Do  you  Call  Yourself  A  Man.  18 

The  Womb  Of  Night is 

The  Feast  Of  Eternal  Knowl- 
edge   19 

I  Struck  The  Iron  And  The 

Flames  Burst  Forth    20 

It  Is  Good  To  Live 22 

One  In  All,  All  In  One 23 

I  Am  Sick  Of  Tlie  Flag  Of 

Truce     , 24 

Come  Into  My  Arms  ..!..!.  26 

We  Are  The  Workers 26 

Come  Give  Me  Your  Hand. .  .27 
To-Day,  To-Morrow,  Yester- 
day      27 

Words:    Words:    Words 28 

Strip  Life  Of  Hypocracy 28 

I  Command  You  Be  A  Man.  .29 
Civilization's  Bloody  Sword.. 2 9 
What  Food  Shall  I  Offer  The 

,   Poor? 80 

Let  Us  Be  Honest si 

We  Were  Made  Peers  . . . ! !  !32 
I  Am  Here  To  Reveal  You  To 

Yourself    33 

The  Peace  Of  Conquest. . .  . ".  84 
I   CI.  -u   Every   Man   And 

Woman    35 

Back,  You  Cannot  StopMe.  .'36 
Love  I  Have  Come 35 


The  impulse  Of  The  World 

Is  Roman   37 

To  Make  Men  Pioneers'  .* ! !      38 
Our  Children  Of  The  Future*.  39 

Democracy    4^ 

Love  Never  Love  Denied.*.    '41 

To  The  Prostitute .'41 

I  Am  Alive '40 

My  Little  Mind 43 

Death  Or  Life? *.*.!'"  44 

Prometheus     47 

My  Song  Of  Universal 

Brotherhood    ...  is 

My  Soul :.*:::::.4l 

The  Hand  Of  God 49 

He  Was  Made  To  Love  .* ki 

The  Mother  Isls '"52 

Love  Grew   '   53 

Lo  I  Come  Forth  Another  " 

Being     54 

Rule  Over  The  Empire  Of 


Self 


66 


The  Song  Of  Liberty ..'si 

Lord,  I  Love  Thee   68 

A  Revery    *  *  69 

The  Pinions  Of  Mother-Love'eo 
For  Those  Who  Have  Byes 

To   See    «| 

Hark  To  The  Chlming'of  *    * 

Bells! 22 

Lord,  Here  Am  I  ..*.*.' 03 

mr*H?:  ^^a*te!  Awake!  .*.'!.*  64 
The  Eternal  Dream  Of  God.. 66 

Beyond  All  These .Jg 

Against  Their  Will  Men  Must 

Look  Up   «« 

Colossal   Shadows    ..'.'. «7 

Prison  Key  Toronto  Jail" .' .'  ,*  .68 


\ 


Love  Stands  Before  Me 68 

Space!  Space!  Space! 69 

God  And  My  Mother 70 

Day    70 

bigo    71 

Roll  On  You  Thunderclouds.  .71 
The  "Open  Sesame"  Into 

Happiness    72 

The  Miracle  Of  Miracles 73 

Moon!   Moon!   Moon!    73 

The  Wind  Calls   74 

The  Crucifixion     75 

The  Finger-TIps  Of  Night 76 

Farewell  Dear  Liover 77 

My  Noble,  Generous  Lover,. 7 8 
The  Miracle  Of  Creation. ..  .79 
Let  Each  Man  Give  Of  That 

Which  He  Has  To  Give 80 

"And  God  So  Loved  The 

World"    80 

The  Language  Of  The  Gods.  .81 

Stars    82 

I  Love  You 82 

I  Am  A  Lover 83 

If  Thou  Wouldst  Know  Thy- 
self      83 

The   Maiden  And  Her  Many 

Suitors 84 

Love  Is  The  Cause  of  Being.  .86 
Love  Came  Into  My  Garden.  .86 

My  Baby    86 

Keep  For  Me  Your  Kisses.  .  .  .87 
Fairest  Of  All  The  Sex  Were 

Mothers   88 

A  Fire-Child  Of  Love 89 


Alone  Am  1 90 

Despair    90 

My  Mother's  Tender  Eyes... 91 

My  Blessed  Mother 91 

Within  Me  All  Worlds 92 

Come  Let  You  And  Me  Love. 93 
When  I  Am  Near  To  Thee.  .  .94 

I  And  My  Father  Are  One 94 

To-Night  I  Am  A  Mother 95 

Dear  God,  Give  Me  Love.  . .  .96 

I  Prayed  For  Love 97 

Ich  Liebe  Dich 98 

"Shma'    Israel"    98 

I  Am  In  All  Things 99 

The  Champion  Of  God 99 

The  Virgin's  Lamp 100 

The  Mother-Pearl 100 

The  Cup  Of  Civilization 101 

All  That  Man  Is,  I  Am  ....  105 

The  Unbelievers 107 

To  My  Mother 108 

Jacob    109 

Lord  Of  The  Universe 110 

If  1  Loved  Thee Ill 

I  Will  Wander  Among  Strange 
People    112 

The  Soldiers  Of  All  Worlds.  113 

The  Mother-Love   114 

The  God  Of  Gods   116 

Graven  Images 118 

Those  Whom  God  Hath 

Joined    119 

Of  My   Passions  I  Am  Un- 
ashamed      120 


TO  WALT  WHITMAN 

They  say  I  sing-  your  songs; 

I  know  that  my  tones 

Are  not  as  full, 

As  round,  as  vibrant  as  yours ; 

Still  I  am  glad 

That  with  my  feeble  voice 

I  have  the  courage 

To  sing  your  melodies ; 

They  shake  their  heads 

These  critics,  murmuring, 

"It  is  a  pity 

She  follows  Walt  Whitman  so  closely' 

And  I  in  place  of  being  dismayed, 

Pray  that  I  may  be  enfolded 

In  your  strong  thoughts. 

Impregnated  with  your  ideals; 

And  that  my  songs 

Will  so  resemble  yours, 

That  all  men  hearing  them 

Will  cry  aloud, 

"Walt  Whitn;^q«  is  their  father." 


i 


1 


I 


i 


'i 


Songs  of  Earth 


THE  UNIVERSE  SINGS  HER  SONG 

The  Universe  sings  her  song; 

Hark:  a  thousand  voices  full,  dear,  melodious,  liquid 

Pour  forth  their  joy;  ^ 

The  clouds  brush  against  each  other  and  I  hear  their  low 

rumbhng  tones  across  the  sky; 
The  planets  whirl  through  space  and  their  high-pitched  voices 

are  full  of  echoes ; 
I  listen  to  the  throaty  notes  of  the  gurgling  water  running 

over  and  under  the  smoothed  stones ; 
The  mighty  volume  of  the  water-fall  as  it  plunges  over  the 

edge  of  the  precipice  : 
I  hear  the  metallic  song  of  the  train,  heading  for  California: 

as  It  flashes  across  my  vision, 
I  hear  the  smooth,  wet  tones  of  the  flowers  as  they  drink 

?ht.'^th'  '"^  °f  ')'  y^'^f  '^^^"^^"  ^^i^»»  ^^S  in  their  sleep ; 
I  hear  the  carol  of  the  lark  as  it  circles  the  hiavens.  ^ 

1  he  neighing  of  the  horse. 

Tr!'!ir^''*l^  "moo-oo-oo"  of  the  cow.  standing  knee-deep 
In  clover  her  calf  sucking  at  her  well-filled  telts ;  ^ 

two  th?fe'°"^  °^  *^^  ^'°"  ^^  *^*  blacksmith  strikes,  one, 

'^^%nS!J^'^^  '^k'^I"'  ""^y*"^  °^  meaningless  words   as   she 
hushes  her  baby  to  sleep; 

perfTcVcasr''  *''""  *''**"*'*  *""*  polished,  floating  with 

I  hear  the  soft  run  of  scales,  the  fine  tones,  the  trill,  the  high 

nJl^'t^t  ^  ^^^^'  *^*^  ^^"**^"*  c"»nax,  the  fast-breathilg 
notes  of  the  oxcited  audience,  the  music  of  hand-clapping^ 


H 


8 


Songs  of  Earth 


The  Cock-a-doodle-doo  greeting  to  the  sun, 

The  newsboys  rising  inflection, 

The  chanting  of  the  early  mass,  cool,  clean,  prayerful, 

The  sing-song  responses  from  the  church-goers. 

The  dirge  of  the  dying  swan. 

The  voice  of  the  rain-drops  striking  upon  the  roof  through  the 

mist, 
Rushing  through  the  eave-troughs  bound  for  the  freedom  of 

the  sewers; 
The  zip,  zip,  zip  of  clothes  rubbing  on  the  wash-board. 
The  Melting  Voice  of  Soap-Suds, 
The  Melody  of  The  Peaceful  Heart, 
The  Big  Tones  of  Unselfishness, 
The  Galloping  Beat  of  Love, 
The  Muffled  Tones  of  Decency, 
The  Dry  Voice  of  Desire, 
The  Choking  Songs  of  Indignation, 
The  Trembling  Notes  of  Hesitancy; 
Songs:  Songs:   Songs: 
Strains  without  words, 
Music  of  Unreached  Heights, 
Music  of  Blackest  Depths, 
Arranged  for  One  Verse,  the  Future ; 
Notes  registered  in  the  Scale  of  Life,  some  flat,  some  sharp, 

each  in  their  own  bar,  no  rubato,  following   a    Marked 

Time  for  each  movement; 
Now  forte,  now  pianissimo,  now  tremelo — 
The  jerky  gasps  of  Inhalation, 
The  death-rattle, 

The  final  exhaling 

The  collapse  of  the  Bellows — 

The  convulsive  sobs  of  relatives — 

Far  off  in  the  Land  of  Stars  I  hear  the  music  of  the  bag-pipes 

growing  finer,  finer,  finer, 
Until  the  flute-like  tones  of  Released  Singers  come  floating 

through  my  dreams. 


Songs  of  Earth  9 

I  -VM  OF  THE  EARTH 

i  am  of  the  earth ; 

Staid,  methodical. 

Old-fashioned,  new-fashioned. 

Working  in  harmony  with  the  Jaws  of  nature 

Obeymg  the  order  of  their  routine 

Yet  unbound  by  their  form; 

^^^^ing  in  deep  breaths  of  air  to  nourish  my  earth-made 

And  exhaling  to  nourish  the  source  of  my  in-drawing  breaths  • 

I  laugh,  cry,  walk,  run,  eat,  drink,  sleep,  talk  • 

1  have  my  loves, 

I  have  my  hates ; 

And  these  passions  are  big 

There  is  nothing  small  about  them ; 

I  open  my  arms  wide,  wide  for  each  movement, 

1  dig  mto  the  centre  of  desires 

And  having  found  the  heart 

I  pump  the  blood  into  it  and  out  of  it. 

I  am  a  bird  ; 

Flying  over  the  tree-tops, 
Fanning  the  air  with  my  wings 
And  then  sailing  without  an  effort. 

The  sun  catches  me 

And  I  am  a  sun-ray ; 

Lying  upon  the  face  of  the  placid  waters, 

bivmg  life  to  the  larvae  which  have  been  deposited. 

I  am  a  moon-beam ; 
Dancing  like  a  silvery-sprite 
Upon  the  rippling  waters. 

I  am  a  minnow; 
Leaping  out  of  the  lake 


Tir 


10 


Songs  of  Earth 


As  the  larger  fish  pursue  me; 

And  now  I  am  a  bass, 

Swimming  quietly  at  night-fall 

Through  shallow  waters, 

Where  thousands  of  unsuspecting  minnows 

Become  a  prey  for  me. 

I  am  a  tigress; 

Watching  over  my  cubs  with  jealous  eyes. 

Roaring  in  my  maternal  pride, 

Roaring  and  showing  my  displeasure 

When  my  mate  comes  too  near  my  brood; 

I  teach  them  how  to  crawl 

Legs  doubled. 

Belly  to  the  ground. 

To  poise  themselves  for  the  spring  of  death ; 

And  when  they  bring  in  the  mangled  body 

I  point  out  the  best  place  to  attack. 


I  am  a  deer; 

Flying  nimbly  through  the  woods, 

Careful  that  my  antlers  do  not  catch 

In  over-hanging  branches; 

As  the  hunters  and  their  baying  dogs  come  on, 

I  plunge  into  the  water 

To  kill  the  scent  for  my  pursuers. 

I  am  an  old  woman; 

Seated  before  the  blazing  logs. 

My  cap  of  white  on  my  head. 

Knitting,  knitting,  knitting, 

I  eat  little. 

And  sleep  a  great  deal, 

I  am  always  asking  about  your  family 

And  always  forgetting  that  your  mother  is  dead. 


Song!  of  Earth 

I  am  a  laborer; 

I  come  home  sweaty 

From  my  eight-hours  of  work ; 

I  give  my  good  wife  a  resounding  smack  on  her  lips. 

1  dance  my  baby  upon  my  knee 

Patting  her  soft,  plump,  little  hands 

With  my  rough  and  caloused  ones; 

I  enjoy  my  corn-beef  and  cabbage 

Helpmg  myself  lavishly, 

The  baby  meanwhile  dipping  her  hands  into  my  plate. 

I  am  a  woman  of  fashion ; 

Until  eleven  I  lie  abed 

Sipping  hot  chocolate. 

Crumbling  my  toast  languidly; 

At  night  I  am  wakened, 

I  dress  for  dinner. 

The  cut  of  my  gown  reveals 

My  white,  smooth  back  to  advantage 

My  well-rounded  bosoms. 

As  I  whirl  argund  the  ball-room, 

I  observe  that  the  eyes  of  my  partner 

Are  filled  with  admiration. 

1  coquette, 

I  fill  him  with  desire 

And  then  I  forget  all  about  him. 

I  am  a  priest; 

Chanting  my  prayers  incessantly, 

My  eyes  are  fastened  upon  the  sky. 

Or  upon  the  earth  beneath, 

1  crush  out  every  emotion, 

Enduring  all  forms  of  penance. 

I  am  a  lover; 

Filled  with  the  Passion  of  Procreation. 

'vt  night  I  steal  away  from  many  companions 


11 


frtrr^ 


12 


Songs  of  Earth 


To  meet  her; 

I  kiss  her  eyes,  her  brow,  her  lips, 

Giving  her  the  best  of  myself; 

I  crush  her  within  my  arms, 

I  do  this  with  many  women 

And  I  have  a  new  passion  for  them  all. 

I  am  the  Unbound  Woman; 
Mad  with  the  Power  of  Love, 
I  lie  face  downward 
To  kiss  the  blades  of  grass; 
I  press  my  naked  body 
Against  the  burning  sand, 
The  fire  of  the  contact  thrills  me ; 
I  love  to  stand  close  to  people ; 

0  the  ecstacy  in  the  pressure  of  a  baby's  lips : 
The  soothing  feeling  as  I  enfold  my  sisters 
Within  my  arms: 

The  exhilaration  as  I  clasp  hands  with  my  Comrade-Lover, 

Pouring  forth  in  beaming  glances 

The  full-extent  of  my  heaven-made  fires; 

1  spring  new-born 

From  the  seeds  of  Old  Experiences; 

And  I  labor  and  labor  to  make  the  flowers 

Born  of  me  perfect ; 

I  store  my  soul  full  of  sweets 

Coaxing  the  bees  to  visit  me, 

That  I  may  give  them  of  my  best; 

As  I  go  to  seed 

I  d'-eam,  and  dream — and  dream — 

I  put  my  life-sap  into  the  formation  of  my  children; 

All  that  I  have  gathered  I  give ; 

And  that  for  which  I  hope 

I  give  also; 

I  keep  on  loving,  loving,  loving. 

Marking  my  progeny  that  they  may  bring  into  the  world 

The  Spirit  of  Love, 


Songs  of  Earth 

The  Spirit  of  Immortality; 

Hail  to  this  New-Born  Race : 

Hail  to  the  Sons  of  God : 

Their  crosses  are  placed  over  the  Sea  of  Blood. 

And  Humanity  walks  over  this  Shining  Bridge 

Into  the  Promised  Land.  ^ 


13 


WE  ARE  IN  A  WORLD  OP  ACTION 


We  are  in  a  world  of  action, 

We  have  hugged  our  golden  dreams  long  eno'tgh- 

T^lv  Jpnf?v.^  our  sweetest  songs  into  their  ears; 

They  slept  through  the  period     '  their  babyhood 

And  now  that  they  are  full-gi^  ^ 

We  must  send  them  from  the  shelter  of  our  arras; 

B^e^'ave'f  Lrt!^  ""  ^^^"'  "P°"  ^^^^^  -"  ^-t. 

Do  not  tremble  at  the  parting, 

Let  us  find  out  if  we  have  nourished  Weaklings 

cSen!°'   ''^'    "^^^   """""^^   "^"^   "°'   understand   our 
They  are  beyond  their  years  in  wisdom," 

ba^rtn'^'  ^'"''''^  °"'  """""^^  ^^^'  "°'  '^^  °*»*"  ^o™«n 

Let  us  command  our  children  to  speak  with  courage. 

The  Truth  cannot  be  hidden,  ^ 

If  they  have  it  written  across  their  hearts, 

It  must  find  expression ; 

Rejoice :  rejoice :  rejoice : 

All  that  are  parents  of  Ideals,  of  dreams, 

1  re  time  is  ripe  for  work, 

eaXLad"  body""  '''""  *"'''  "^'  *°  *'  "«  »'  «» 
Or  losing  form  enter  the  World  of  Phantoms. 


14 


Songs  of  Earth 


[I 


THE  RESURRECTION 

I  am  sick  of  eating  half-baked  bread, 

Of  hearing  squeamish  sounds, 

Of  looking  upon  the  faces  of  undersized  people. 

I  tell  you  that  you  shall  have  your  inheritance; 

You  can  bring  your  judges,  your  lawyers, 

Your  sheriffs,  you*  policemen, 

Your  wardens,  your  turnkeys,  your  jailers. 

Your  prison,  your  piles  of  unbroken  stones, 

Your  chain  and  iron-ball. 

Your  "black  hole," 

Your  bread  and  water. 

Your  lashes. 

Your  sentinels  with  their  loaded  rifles, 

Your  priests,  your  excommunication. 

Your  scaffold,  your  hangman,  your  black  cap, 

Your  rope,  your  "drop,"  your  wooden  box, 

Your  Sheet  of  Lime, 

I  will  still  live ; 

I  will  destroy  your  armories  and  fortresses, 

I  will  teach  the  people  to  become  Revolutionists, 

There  shall  be  war,  war,  war. 

Wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth 

Until  all  come  into  their  inheritance; 

The  stronger  shall  not  rob  the  weaker, 

United  shall  we  stand, 

God,  The  Spirit, 

The  Earth  our  body. 

O  Humanity  come  be  my  lover. 
We  will  become  the  parents 
Of  an  Adam  Kadmon ; 
The  gods  have  heard  my  cry 
And  I  am  pregnant; 
They  whisper  that  his  seed 
Shall  be  as  the  stars  of  heaven. 
As  the  sands  upon  the  sea-shore. 


-I 

'I 


Songg  of  Earth 

Hark:   what  says  the  Voice  of  Thunder? 

Resurrection:    Resurrection:    Resurrection 

The  graves  already  yawn, 

The  Dead  awaken ; 

Ring  out  ye  belis, 

Ding  dong,  ding  dong, 

Across  the  sky, 

Into  the  Seventh  Heaven  ; 

For  gone  long,  long  ago 

Are  all  obstructions ; 

See  the  stars  dressed  in  Bridal  Array 

Come  sailing  down  the  Milkv  Way  • 

A^  Tels  link  their  arms  with  men 

to    rie  that  hath  arisen  calls, 

Anu  all  are  prepared  to  meet  Him. 


15 


I     WHERE  SHALL  I  FLVD  MY  GOD? 


Where  shall  I  find  my  God? 
Shall  I  look  for  Him  'in  the  skv  ^ 
Beyond  the  Plane  of  Vision?    ' 
Shall  I  lie  still  and  dream 
And  dream  and  dream. 
Priding  myself  that  I  am 
A  dreamer  of  God  ? 

F[rHi.^l^  I  descend  from  my  Heaven-Placed  God 

Finding  Hira  seated  upon  a  throne  in  Hell"- 

p  wheal  find  Him  there 

I  will  know  that  trulv  is  He.  God  • 

And  I  will  kneel  before  Him, 

But  He  will  say. 

"Arise  bra»e  spirit. 

In  the  depths  hast  thou  found  Me, 

In  the  heights  will  I  find  thee." 


16 


Songs  of  Earth 


I  AM  MAD  WITH  THE  JOY  OF  CREATION. 

I  am  mad  with  the  joy  of  creation ; 
I  am  intoxicated  with  the  bliss 
Of  the  Manifested  Universe ; 
I  have  entered  into  the  Spirit  of  Love 
i^xpressed  by  the  Creator  in  the  Coming  Down  • 
I  look  upon  the  Giant  Body  of  Humanity 
Keachmg  from  heaven  to  earth  • 
I  kiss  his  feet, 
His  limbs, 
His  breasts, 

His  lips,  eyes  and  forehead, 
I  take  both  of  his  hands 
And  palm  to  palm  we  ignite  our  fires: 
He  siezes  me  by  the  hair 
Lifting  me  up,  up,  up, 
Until  we  stand  upon  an  equal  footini?. 
Companions,  lovers,  comrades: 
1  descend  with  him 
Into  the  Path  of  Drunkards, 
Watching  over  them. 
Breaking  their  many  falls 
juest  too  soon  they  reach 
The  Arms  of  Death  ; 
We  follow  the  Thief 
In  his  midnight  looting; 
At  last  he  has  taken  all' 
That  he  is  destined  to  pay  back— 
A  child  sleeps  by  its  mother's  side 
We  disturb  his  dreams- 
Why  do  you  leave  your  loot  O  Thief? 

Out  fn^r""  f  ^.^^^kened  with  a  child's  cry? 
Out  into  the  night  he  scurries. 
Tomorrow  we  will  find  him  working, 
He  will  commence  to  cancel  debts. 
Weary  Prostitute 


Songs  of  Earth 


17 


Through  ihe  thickness  of  the  night 

We  dog  your  steps, 

You  are  barren, 

All  has  been  given  to  Passion's  Use 

Discard  the  husk  * 

And  in  the  silence  await  the  formation 

Of  a  New  Body. 

We  follow  the  Laborer 

Instilling  in  his  blood 

The  Seeds  of  Revolt. 

Now  are  we  in  the  chamber  of  the  Young  Bride 

We  draw  these  opposing  forces  together 
1  hat  the  fittest  may  survive. 


J  1  AM  BUILDING 

I  am  building; 

Perhaps  we  can  build  together 
Have  you  unfinished  castles.? 
Bring  them  to  me, 
1  will  finish  yours, 
You  will  finish  mine. 
Hush— I  have  something  to  whisper- 
When  our  castles  are  finished 
We  will  steal  to  the  corner 
At  the  end  of  the  lane, 
A   !'"^'®  a  tumbled-down  house 
And  O  so  many  thin  children. 
We  will  give  them  our  possessions; 
O  I  am  full  ot  the  Joy  of  Giving, 
A  Joy  that  IS  Infinite.  Eternal 


IS 


Songs  of  Earth 


DO  YOU  CALL  YOURSELF  A  MAN? 


Do  you  call  yourself  a  man  ? 
Then  I  shall  add  the  woman, 
Do  you  call  yourself  a  woman? 
Then  I  shall  add  the  man, 

"""ShVc^nTred'^Gift;^^^"  ^"'  ^'^  ^^"^-^  ^P""^«  ^o^H 
I  would  take  the  tireless  energy  which  seeks  for  physical  ex- 

pression  and  place  it  in  the  Flaming  Bowl  of  Spirit 
I  would  ^st.r  these  fires  until  their  tonnes  lick  eac^-  other's 

^^%ui?fo4i!^'"^  ""^"^  '^°'^"  ^'°™  ^^^""^^  ^""^  ^°°^  °"  * 
See  how  the  flames  play  about  each  other,  drawing  in  in   in- 

One  Flame'r'  '^'  ^^^^^'  °^  '^'  ^^^"  ^^^"  fheri  ^sbut 

^'"?nvSle  OnT^  ^"'°  '^'  '^^'  '^"^'•^"  ^^  ^^^  Victor,  the 
Thei^_  shining  faces' shall  light  the  earth  and  put  the  night  to 


THE  WOMB  OF  NIGHT 

Cr.  fool.'^rficent''^^'^  ^^"^^  ^°^^^  ''^  ^^"^ 
TrUspar^^^^^  ^^^*  -^'^^^  her  first  babe. 

Lmgering  on  the  Doorsteps  of  the  Past, 

Translucent  Morn : 

Trembling  and  naked  you  stand 

Upon  the  Threshold  of  the  Present: 

riail  to  you  Virgin-Day 

Born  from  the  Womb  of  Night. 


Songs  of  Earth 

THE  FEAST  OF  ETERNAL  KNOWLEDGE 

The  very  sound  of  the  phrase 

"It  is  not  proper,"  ' 

Maddens  me. 

Who  says  that  "It  is  not  proper"  > 

Man  with  his  churchified  manners. 

His  goat-desires. 

Are  you  ashamed  of  your  body> 

Cover  it,  ' 

But  do  not  attempt  to  cover  mine 
1  glory  in  my  nakedness  ; 
Do  you  satisfy  your  lus*^ 

nn^nn.™'"*";^^*  ^^""Y"  ^'  '  ^'^^^  Mantle  over  you? 
For  my  j^ys.'""  "^'  '°^  '"'""^  '"^^  ^"""^^t     '"''' 
God  said,  "Let  there  be  Light  ' 
"There  was  Light  and  He  saw  that  it  was  Good." 

Ears  with  which  to  hear? 

Eyes  with  which  to  see? 

All  organs  of  your  body  their  allotted  work' 

Are  you  not  imperfect  when  one  organ 

i'ails  to  perform  its  duty' 

Then  why  call  one  of  these  a  king, 

The  other  a  knave? 

He  that  desecrates  the  Handiwork  of  the  Lord 

Th"  more";:;;  ::i  ^^^'^  ^--  ^^^  ^ree  of  Knowledge. 

The  less  Evil  do  you  conceive; 

VV  hen  you  can  say, 

"All  is  Good," 

Lo  you  will  find  that  you  have  been  eating 

From  the  Tree  of  Life,  ^ 

lou  have  been  banqueting  your  spirit       . 

At  the  Feast  of  Eternal  Knowledge. 


19 


20 


Songs  of  Earth 


I  STRUCK  THE  IRON  AND  THE  FLAMES  BURST 
FORTH 

Ah  Good: 

I  struck  the  iron  and  the  flames  burst  forth, 

I  stood  before  their  blaze  and  warmed  myself; 

1  drew  in  the  sparks  which  flew  about  me; 

Let  the  others  cry, 

"Beware,  beware": 

1  love  dangers; 

How  shall  I  know  my  strength  if  I  am  never  called  upoh  to 
use  It?  ^ 

0  Fire  of  Ideals: 
Fire  of  Love: 

Fire  of  Creative  Force: 

1  place  you  in  the  Crucible  and  watch  the  transmutation- 
Precious  Nuggets  of  Gold  acquired  through  digging  deep 
Down  mto  the  Underworld;  s        SS    g  ueep, 

0  Golden  Heart  of  Flame,  all  that  you  touch  shall  glow. 

'Tis  the  dawn, 

1  must  prepare  for  my  lovers  now  come  to  greet  me  • 
1  am  ready,  ' 
Throw  open  the  windows. 

Draw  back  the  hangings, 

1  shall  gaze  into  the  eyes  of  those  that  understand  me 

I  hat  give  me  back  look  for  look; 

What  need  of  protestations  when  eyes  can  plead  so  eloquently? 

Welcome  lovers  into  The  Light.  4"CH"y- 

First  comes  Ambition ; 

Her  cold,  chiselled  form  stands  undraped,  erect  • 

x^jw  perfect  are  the  curves: 

A  Master-Hand  smoothed  her  outlines  •  : 

But  I— I  am  of  the  Common  People—  • 

How  icy-cold  she  is,  j 

I  cannot  draw  her  close, 


Songs  of  Earth 


21 


fp«s?her  hii"/  '°™  "'"■  '"  "^  '"Perfections; 

WS  I'rt  ]li"A°n'e'Xre'uV"'°  '"  ""'''  "^^ 

I  wa«h  th«  Quick-Silver  ruining  througl,  her  transparent 

When  lo :  my  statue  smiles, 
My  Galatea  comes  to  life; 

0  Awakened  Woman  : 

1  love  every  fibre  of  your  being- 

I  crown  you  with  a  Wreath  of  Joy: 
Desire  boldly  enters: 
Grown  to  full-stature, 

''""shoiS/ers""""^  "°"'  """'^''  f*"^  ^mbrously  about  his 
How  prv^iound  appears  his  meditation: 
I  strip  this  Garment  of  Pretence  from  him- 

fevSed; ^  '""'^'  ''"''"  °'  "'  '"""'^'''  P'"""?'  stands 
Do  I^upbraid  him  that  when  brought  to  bay  he  speaks  the 
Nay,  I  teach  him  the  value 

Sl;Vp?otrth^t^^^^^^^  -  ^-"^^^^^  ^^-nders. 

Now  ttetrsLkf"^  '"  ^"°"  °^  '^^^"^^^'• 

IJhT""^  ^^""""^  '"1°  ^^^''  '"-fed  veins 
And  they  are  nourished: 

ioung  and  old, 

Into  my  arms  they  come, 

io  each  I  give 

That  which  can  help  them  most, 

i  love  them  equally. 

My  Father  wove  for  me 
A  Coat  of  Mary  Skins; 
Which  I  have  donned 


22 


Songs  of  Earth 


Let  those  that  call  themselves  my  brethren 
Sell  me  to  Unbelievers ; 
My  child  sleeps  in  the  Cradle  of  Creation 
And  the  gods  watch  over  his  dreams. 


IT  IS  GOOD  TO  LIVE 

It  is  good  to  live, 

To  feel  the  currents  of  the  Universe 

Flowing  through  you  into  all  forms; 

You  take,  you  give, 

You  give,  you  take  : 

Wake  up,  wake  up,  wake  up, 

Join  hands  with  the  wind. 

Rush  over  Stagnant  Waters 

Breaking  their  Scum; 

Seize  the  Living  Things 

From  the  Clutch  of  Death, 

Hurry  them  on  to  their  destination ; 

Boil,  stir,  mix. 

Burn,  smooth,  roughen, 

Tear,  whirl,  hurl. 

Toss,  spill,  pound 

And  grind; 

Let  us  have  action. 

Use  the  Light  of  Day 

To  the  Eleventh  Hour; 

The  midnight  comes 

Bandaging  our  eyes ; 

O  let  the  couch  that  we  have  fashioned 

With  our  own  hands. 

Be  woven  from  a  pattern 

Of  Faith,  Hope  and  Love, 

Built  with  an  eye  for  Service. 


Songs  of  Earth 
ONE  IN  ALL,  ALL  IN  ONE 

Have  don'i  with  right  and  wron^ 

Good  and  bad. 

Pure  and  impure, 

Rich  and  poor, 

Educated,  uneducated, 

Learned,  simple, 

Beautiful,  ugly. 

Fine  manners,  ill  manners. 

Well-bred,  ill-bred. 

Riches,  poverty, 

Leisure,  labor. 

The  wise  man,  the  fool. 

Moral  and  immoral, 

Mine  and  thine 

And  let  us  be  one; 

What  I  lack. 

What  you  lack. 

We  have  between  us, 

Therefore  we  lack  nothing; 

Let  us  adopt  our  mode  of  living 

From  the  flowers. 

They  are  beautiful. 

Each  after  its  own  kind, 

The  sun  shines  upon  them  equally 

Heaven  fills  their  extended  goblets 

With  sparkling  nectar, 

The  earth  gives  them  sustenance. 

The  wmd  teaches  them  frolicsome  games. 

1  he  bees  are  impartial  messengers 

v-arrying  their  messages  of  love 

i  o  each  other, 

Accepting  only  what  each  is  content  to  give  • 

Their  breath  is  always  filled 

W  ith  the  sweetest  of  perfumes, 

fhey  are  not  gluttonous, 


23 


24 


Songs  of  Earth 


They  are  willing  mothers, 

Most  joyful  when  they  are  budding; 

They  comfort  the  sick,  ^ 

Whispermg  tender  hope 

Into  the  Ear  of  the  Dying; 

They  smile  upon  the  little 'cripple 

In  his  garret  *^ 

l.et  us  cease  to  make  divisions, 
One  God, 
One  people. 
One  in  All, 
All  in  One. 


I  AM  SICK  OF  THE  FLAG  OF  TRUCE 


'  "c.!'  '"'  "=«  °'  ^™«  C-"-'--  has  given  me  to 
I  am  tired  of  compromising, 

I  Sfmrni^thTrighTrote'^L'^^  °T  ^^  ^-^' 

iidVtl  -(,-  to  tak:  a"^mu1k7inrytatd 
And  fight  for  Rotten  Principles;  ^      "'^' 

To  S^!         u  *  *5^  P°'"*  of  the  sword 
WheTl  s'SC°l^'V'''^^°J" '"  ^'«  <^omain 

Before  fn>f  -^'"^  *°  '^"^"  your  own  house 
^efore  cnticismg  your  neighbors. 

It  is  yZ?l!f    f^""  ^T  ^^"«  "ot  without, 
It  IS  your  duty  to  first  destroy  the  Tyrant 
That  menaces  your  home  and  liberty  ^ 
Before  you  march  on  for  foreign  co'^iquests. 


COME  INTO  MY  ARMS 


Songs  of  Earth 


25 


Come  come  into  my  arms 

wmVo^'coZr-^^ 

Must  I  tread  the  floor 
A-iKe  a  caged  beast? 

teTuJi^lS/"'  "-O-Wntin,  Of  Ki„.> 

Intotheearsof  all  lovers  • 
Come  sip  with  me 

My  smnt  is  on  fire, 
The  Fire  of  God 

Consumes'  ^\^/^^  ^'^hin 
^onsumes  my  body, 

Co"mT,^7'°^'*^^^^™th; 
)|;Ome  unto  me 

You  fly  fro^°Ve     """^^  '"""""i' 
As  from  a  mad  thinr; 

oii:zi:'  ^'^""'"^  ^'"' 

J  shall  pursue 
And  overtake  you. 
^  shall  hold  you 


26 

Within  my  arms, 

Until  you  learn 

To  love  my  touch, 

Until  you  know  my  meaning. 


Songs  of  E^rth 


WE  ARE  THE  WORKERS 

I  take  a  pick 

Striking  it  into  the  earth ; 

Good,  I  have  made  an  opening: 

Come  fellow-workers 

Take  your  shovels, 

Turn  over  the  soil : 

Ah:   I  knew  that  here 

Was  to  be  found  a  vein  of  gold ; 

Let  each  man  work  with  all  his  might, 

I  promise  that  you  shall  take  away  with  you 

All  that  you  have  unearthed; 

Here  is  wealth 

Deposited  by  God, 

Who  shall  dispute  your  claim  to  it? 

You  are  His  Heirs, 

For  you  are  His  Children, 

Let  the  Law  form  an  army 

To  wrest  from  you  your  possessions, 

We  will  meet  them  man  to  man 

And  in  the  fight  that  follows 

We  will  scatter  their  forces 

Sending  them  back  to  the  Hell 

From  which  they  sprang. 

We  are  the  Workers, 

We  are  the  Fittest, 

We  will  survive. 


Songs  of  Earth 
COME  GIVE  ME  YOUR  HAND 
Come,  give  me  your  hand, 
1  am  mad  with  the  Passion  nf  r.-^,*- 
Let  me  but  find  willing  bod-/s^'"''°" ' 
And  at  once  will  I  lie  with  them- 
fu"^,  *u'  ?'""^^J«  °f  ^y  Hope     ' 

O  m.„     ^"^^*  °^  *^«  Future, 
u  men  and  women  : 

Could  you  but  know 

How  near  to  gods  vou  are- 

i't  °*  ">'  #^^  o^  Common  Use 

But  block  their  going 

l.et  not  my  lymg  with  you 
Leave  you  barren, 

mJV  "'  ^l  *^^  g'^^s  of  a  new  race- 
pntLtH^irir--Cu3.om 


27 


TO-DAY,  TO-MORROW-YESTERDAY 


28 


Songs  of  Earth 


WORDS:  WORDS:  WORDS: 

Words,  words,  words, 

Empty,  man-made  forms, 

We  have  had  enough  of  them; 

Let  us  use  the  language  of  hands, 

The  light  of  eyes, 

The  pressure  of  lips. 

The  movement  of  the  body ; 

I  am  weary  of  my  weariness, 

Of  my  tired  cry, 

Of  my  treasonable  brain, 

Of  my  desires. 

Of  my  rebellious  spirit. 

Of  the  sound  of  my  own  voice 

Discoursing  in  mighty  tones 

Upon  the  -  oblems  of  nature; 

O  to  be  as  a  little  child, 

To  speak  naturally. 

Act  naturally. 

Live  naturally. 

Forgetting  sorrow 

In  the  abundance  of  joy. 

STRIP  LIFE  OF  HYPOCRACY  j 

Strip  Life  of  Hypocracy  and  underneath  a  smooth,  white  body    I 

stands  revealed. 
Take  her  into  your  arms, 
Hold  her  close  to  Love's  Desire, 
All  her  choicest  gifts  she  will  outspread  upon  her  lap. 
Waiting  for  you  to  come  forward  and  take  that  which  has 

been  entrusted  to  her  for  you,  i 

"Take  and  make  way  for  your  brother,"  | 

"His  gift  is  also  with  me,"  1 

"Take  and  make  way  for  others,"  lafe  cries, 
"To  all  I  give  according  to  their  need, 
This  is  my  task  into  Eternity." 


Songs  of  Earth 
CIVILIZATION'S  BLOODY  SWORD 

The  Unwritten  Law  of  Uve  A«'-«<^t,on. 

i  Of  Child  L^hn   'p    "^'^"T^  °f  Prostitution, 
ui  J^hild-Labor,  Respectability, 

I  ^^^I'jO".  Religion.  d>wardice. 

I  Capitalism,  Socialism.  Anarchism, 

I  A  '^l^^.n^y  bow  and  arrow 

f^l      n"^^""^""-^  ^  ^""t  for  food; 
I  am  called  a  savage  for  I  kill  beasts 
T  clothe  myself  in  their  hide 
The  word  Luxury  is  unknown  to  me 

V^ou  that  slowly  torture  to  death 
Men,  women  and  children. 

Praying  that  God  may  have  mercy  on  your  victim's  soul. 
I  COMMAND  YOU  BE  A  MAN 

I  command  you  be  a  man         "'^'o^ftl  from  blows? 
Plant  your  feet  firmly  upon  the  earth 
U  a°ma^^\*•'""  "^-t  to  it  than  you: 

vrselfthatCu  mal'-'  °'  '"^"-  "  '^  -"  '"  -strain 
I       ihe  lack  MsellSonTroI  •"""'"'  "P™  *""•  '"e  danger  of 

aTd\X™;,?Sl'?;?h*^;P'r^  •"  ^"  ^^u  on  yo„r  knee. 
'       for  the  Fruits  of  Lit  JL;^^  ^'^""  "P°"  y"".  dimbinp 

duty  of  all  clean  people  to  exterminate  Vermin. 


29 


30 


Songs  of  Earth 


WHAT  FOOD  SHALL  I  OFFER  THE  POOR 

What  food  shall  I  offer  the  poor? 

The  weary,  emaciated,  round-shouldered  poor: 

Every  bone  of  their  spine 

Appearing  like  a  ridge. 

The  hollow  chest. 

The  yellow  shrivelled  skin. 

Thin  covering  for  their  ribs. 

The  shuflFling  gait, 

The  hanging  head, 

The  hunted  look  about  the  eyes. 

The  wrinkles  of  waste  about  the  mouth. 

The  hot,  dry  palm 

With  its  trembling  fingers, 

The  hacking  cough ; 

Shall  I  sing  to  them 

Of  a  death  which  lies 

In  an  overindulgence  of  the  senses? 

The  glory  which  awaits  their  spirit 

When  it  has  become  released 

From  the  Bonds  of  Flesh  ? 

Shall  I  feed  their  soul 

With  Heavenly  Manna? 

Or  shall  I  first  endeavor 

To  nourish  their  starved  body 

With  the  products  of  the  earth  ? 

Come,  all  you  that  desire  to  help. 

First  let  us  create  good  red  blood. 

Let  us  send  this  coursing 

Through  their  ill-fed  veins, 

That  they  may  have 

The  streuKth  with  which    o  grasp 

The  Thought  of  God. 


Songs  of  Earth 


31 


ILE'^ 


BE  HONEST 


•t  us  be  hoiMiit, 
.'2  'lanieri  c  ;d  free, 
,;^;;«  Tr''th  in  all  her  forms 
t\nd  hate  the  Low-Brow  of  Falsehood: 
ufu  "^^'"brace  the  Universe 
Uhat  have  we  to  do  with  cramped  positions^ 
The.  sun  shines  to  give  light  and  heat, 

^he  rain  falls  that  we  may  drink 

I  he  wmd  cools  our  burning  feet 

riie  Day  unfastens  the  Bodice  of' her  Dress 

pffenng  the  Milk  of  Production, 

he  mght  spreads  out  her  Black  Wings  to  cover  us 

>elt!o'n  i?r  £  ^'^  ''^'^  -^  °-  -n^-r  ^  "^' 

^'?nlP"^  2^*^  ^'^^"  ^'"^  dominion  over  it  • 
>hall  we  then  crawl  upon  our  belly? 
Eat  of  dust?  ^ 

i^n  '^^f^!^  *°  P'"^^  tJie  fruit 

RVhich  hes  ripened  within  our  orchard? 

fV  c  are  Immortal, 

rreated  in  the  Likeness  of  God, 

[J  e  will  barter  the  talents 

he  hath  bestowed  upon  us- 

For  every  five  that  He  hath  given 

[Vc  will  bnng  Him  ten  ; 

[.ift  up  your  heads, 

f  e  Children  of  God 

f  e  Everlasting  Ones, 

\}  e  are  the  Flaming  Sword 

Puarding  the  Gates  of  Paradise, 

f\  e  must  brush  ourselves  aside. 

[\hy  should  we  fear  the  Blade? 

V  IS  a  mortal  one 

Maying  but  Mortal  Beings 

?ut  we  are  The  Only  Begotten  Ones ; 


n 


32 


Songs  of  Earth 


We  are, 

We  have  been, 

We  will  ever  be. 

There  is  but  One  Greater  than  we ; 

And  we  are  a  Part  of  That  One. 

WE  WERE  MADE  PEERS 

Are  you   not   weary  of  slanders,   gossip,   backbiting,   petty 
bickering,   smirks,   grunts,   whining,   self-commiseration 
cringing    attitudes,     sanctimonious     expressions,     meek 
voices,  inflated  bodies,  the  bully,  the  blatant  loud-mouth 
the  push  and  pull,  the  wear  and  tear,  the  snarl,  growl, 
pretence   bad  luck,  good  luck,  "what  the  neighbors  wil 
say,"  and  all  Assumed  Virtues? 

Km  °"  *^^  ^°^'^  ^^  *  kingdom  bequeathed  to  you  by  The 
Our  Heavenly  Father, 

Let  your  actions  be  becoming  to  your  station. 
You  are  a  Prince,  I  am  a  Prince, 

PorcTf/^"'^."'^^'"  ^'l^  '^^^?"^  *^"fi^^*  "s  in  the  Court  of  God 
V    ^  IV"^  to  ape  the  attitude  of  slaves; 
Your  Mmd  was  given  to  you  as  a  crown, 

^""domtons"'  '""""  '°  •"  *''""'  '"  '''^'  °^"  5""" 
^""of" Life'  *  ^''''' '"  "'"''''  ^""^  '""'  **"''  °''"'  **•*  ""^*'"' 

''""wt^Su  Lv^s^jta;:;'.'^''  ""' """  "»*  ^°"  s^"  I 

At  creation  we  were  made  peers,  ' 

fV.rl^  7"*'^"  *o  blame  that  we  have  conjured  up  the 
form  of  peasants.  t'  nt 


Songs  of  Earth 


33 


leering 


I  AM  HERE  TO  REVEAL  YOU  TO  YOURSELF 

What  shall  I  do  with  the  People  of  Pretence? 

The  carnivorous  animals  with    their    bloate.d    eyes 

smiles,  the  stain  of  blood  upon  their  lips?  * 

^  ^'^7ound ""  ^^^^^^^  ""^  Respectability,  dashiAg  them  to  the 
Here  is  a  victim,  here  another, 
Come  gorge  yourself  until  you  needs  must  vomit- 
Perhaps  your  stomach  wil!  remember  the  discomfort  of  over- 

eating  and  you  will  at  least  become  moderate 

Ceas"  t^bfing:  '"''  ""  '''''''''''  ^^^  ^^^^^  °^  V^^^^' 
Cease  begging  for  mercy, 
I  am  not  here  to  punish  you, 
I  am  here  to  uncover  you. 
To  reveal  you  to  yourself ; 

laryVurTll'ol  tt^r^'^  '''  '^''''  "'"'  ^'"^  '^^^^^' 
Say  they  are  your  pleasure  and  you  are  forgiven: 
My  hope  for  your  redemption  lies  in  the  fact  that  when  vou 
Thone^^  ^°"'  '''^^"^'  °P'''^'  '^'y  ^^"  lose  7he  Savor 
And  now  O  Liar,  you  come  next  in  turn; 

'  Tn^o\r  E^y^eT  o'f'TJufh^^^'  ^^"'  ^^^^""^"^  ^oul  to  look 

^  "^^Lines -""^^^  ^°"''  ^""^^  ^°"^^  ^''"'^^"^  '^  "Pon  dinner 

^  %r  irLTtinVLf  ^^^^ ''  ^^^"^^  ^  "-*  ^'  p--^- 

For  "F^/J,!?,"  ^  i^°"^^"d  days  you  have  dissembled, 

^hlch^ou  art''  "^°'  *''  '"^'°"  °'  "^P^^^^-^  '"^-^ 
From  this  stage  there  is  deliverance. 
Honesty  forms  the  Egg, 
Ihe  Egg  becomes  the  Crub, 
.^J'e  Body  takes  on  wings, 
With  which  the  Spirit  soars  upon  the  earth 


[I' 


34 


Songs  of  Eatui 


THE  PEACE  OF  CONQUEST 

Life,  life,  life. 

Joyous,  bubbling,  gurgling. 

Tumbling,  spouting, 

Tossing  Waters  of  Flame ; 

I  watch  the  play  of  your  streams 

On  the  surface  and  under; 

The  light  reveals  mishapen  creatures, 

Half-man,  half-fish, 

Things  that  crawl  upon  their  belly 

Carrying  the  yoke  of  many  Self-Gratified  Deeds 

Upon  their  backs; 

Undiscovered  pearls, 

Forms  of  unsurpassing  loveliness 

Housing  destruction; 

Puny  creatures  huddled  together, 

As  if  their  combined  weakness 

Could  better  combat  the  Enemy; 

The  Enemy  well-fed. 

Swelled  to  gigantic  proportions, 

Standing  with  outstretched  fingers 

Ready  to  sieze  upon  all 

That  would  venture  into  fresh  waters; 

I  catch  a  glimpse  of  well-knit  bodies, 

Battle-scarred  heroes, 

Standing  at  the  head  of  cannons. 

Ready  to  discharge  at  a  given  signal 

The  loaded  shot ; 

Commanders  reviewing  che  line  of  battle, 

The  strongholds  of  the  Enemy; 

Gentle-faced  nurses. 

Ministering  priests 

To  console  the  living, 

To  close  the  glassy  eyes  of  the  dead; 

Peace  unto  you, 

And  yet  your  peace  be  with  your  God ; 


Songs  of  Earth 

For  here  where  roads  are  covered  with  thickets. 

Where  beasts  he  in  covert 

Waiting  to  pounce  upon 

The  Unsuspecting  Prey, 

Here  must  we  fight: 

Come  you  strong-backed  people 

I  call  upon  you  tc  fall  in  line, 

Follow  on  your  Flying  Horse 

The  steps  of  those 

That  walk  yet  close  to  earth. 

Their  limbs  are  soft, 

And  when  the  Dragon  darts  forth 

Winging  the  air  to  claw  a  victim, 

Wield  the  sword 

In  the  hand  of  the  Infant: 

0  life,  life,  life. 
Peace  be  unto  you. 
But  let  it  be 

The  Peace  of  Conquest. 

1  CLAIM  EVERY  MAN  AND  WOMAN 

T!^)!!^^""^  ^  *°  ^'^  '^'}^  Inanimate  Possessions? 

I  claim  every  man  and  woman 

For  my  own ; 

I  fold  them  close, 

Close  to  my  beating  heart  of  love. 

Giving  them  all  I  possess, 

My  treasures  of  the  Past, 

My  Legacies  of  the  Future; 

I  demand  nothing  in  return. 

Not  even  their  love 

If  they  have  it  not  to  give; 

I  know  that  the  contact 

Of  my  body  with  theirs 

Has  made  them  my  heirs ; 

And  they  will  become  Givers, 


35 


I' 


36 


Songs  of  Earth 


Leaving  my  Treasures 

For  others  to  hold, 

To  give  into  the  Future. 


1^ 


BACK,  YOU  CANNOT  STOP  ME 

Back,  back,  back. 

You  cannot  stop  me ; 

Do  you  not  see 

That  I  am  cutting  my  way  out  of  this  world  of  strain, 

Vv^here  every  honest  impulse  is  suppressed, 

And  assumed  virtues  in  order? 

I  go  into  a  Land  of  Transparency ; 

Honesty  stares  the  lie  out  of  countenance. 

Hypocrisy  slinks  away. 

Ashamed — ashamed ; 

Here  there  are  no  coverings. 

All  souls  are  naked. 

We  see  the  Tainted  Spots, 

Truth  cuts  away  the  Festering  Flesh, 

Strength  washes  The  Wound, 

Love  heals  it : 

In  the  Land  of  Reflection 

All  undergo  a  transformation, 

A  Body  of  Light  forms 

From  the  Male  Rib, 

While  the  Male  sleeps 

A  deep  sleep. 


LOVE  I  HAVE  COME 

Love  I  have  come; 

A  thousand  hands  barred  the  way, 

A  thousand  tongues  whispered,  "Nay/ 

My  Fool-Heart  said, 

"Go,  I  pray"; 

And  so  I  came. 


Songs  of  Earth 

THE  IMPULSE  OF  THE  WORLD  IS  ROMAN 

The  impulse  of  the  world  is  Roman 
Nero  rules,  ' 

Our  wine-cellars  are  filled  with  Greed. 

How7onl%h!n '^'^'*^^  ""''^  '^""'^'"S^  h""'^"  blood ; 
How  long  shall  we  prey  upon  the  weaker  ones? 
Uog  now  eats  dog, 
Nature  must  revolt  and  put  a  stop 
To  this  abnormal  feasting; 
The  mother-instinct  is  aroused. 
Who  shall  deny  its  strength  ? 
Who  shall  stand  against  its  sacrificing  spirit? 
/he  beast  dies  to  save  her  young, 
Who  shall  drive  off  the  mother  of  men 
When  the  life  of  her  child  is  threatened? 
.ri^y^  P«  yo"*"  croaking  cries  of, 
Ihis  IS  violence," 

JJr!?'."^**"  y°"  serpents  that  hiss  at  her  approach 

With  love  She  shall  remove  the  poison      ^PP'°*^^' 

Of  your  sting. 

Draw  near  you  tortoises. 

You  laggards 

That  scarcely  cover  a  mile-track  in  a  century 

You  crabs  that  con3tantlv  retreat  ^' 

carrying  your  worn-out  Ideals  with  you 

y^o  bury  your  dead. 

Leave  Yesterday  wrapped  in  the  Leaves  of  the  Past 

Tomorrow  draws  near,  ' 

Woman  stands  upon  its  crest  ; 

And  burning  down  the  Barriers  to  Freedom 

Bids  you  "Stop  Destroying." 

And  build  a  Cradle 

For  the  New-Bom  Child. 

The  hour  of  separation  has  passed, 

ihe  East  and  the  West  are  one. 

I  greet  The  Rising  Sun. 


37 


1    fi 


i  ! 
1 


k 


■ti 


38 


Songs  of  Earth 


TO  MAKE  MEN  PIONEERS 

To  do  something^: 

To  cease  to  be  an  automatom 

Placed  in  a  groove, 

Around  which  I  circle 

Until  like  a  top  I  run  down ; 

O  to  stretch  out  an  arm 

Filled  with  the  Strength  of  Creation 

And  smashing  a  hole  in  the  heavens, 

Rids  the  gods  to  enter 

Upon  the  earth  ; 

To  fill  in  the  Ruts 

Of  Custom  and  Habit. 

To  make  men  pioneers 

Breaking  New  Roads 

Into  a  Land  of  Promise ; 

To  live  in  the  Ceaseless  Birth 

Of  New  Thoughts, 

To  feel  the  Strength  of  Samson 

And  with  encircling  arms 

Bring  down  the  Rotten  pillars 

Which  now  uphold  the  World. 

Long,  long  the  thoughts  of  men 

Have  lived  in  selfishness, 

The  soil  refuses 

To  bring  forth  seed — 

<^  I  would  shake  this  earth 

Until  it  quaked 

And  all  things  hidden 

Appeared  upon  the  surface. 

Let  us  become  Destroyers, 

We  will  take  the  Flaming  Sword  of  Youth 

And  slay  oflF  Dotage, 

Peopling  the  Earth 

With  the  Children  of  Eternal  Fires. 


Songs  of  Earth 
OUR  CHILDREN  OF  THE  FUTURE 


39 


out    in    Love's 


Misguided  children, 
Weak  ones, 
Weary  ones, 

Whin^  R^.°"  u°?  *^^  ^"'■^^"  of  pretence; 

Raiment,  '    "^""^  ^'"^    "°* 

Laugh  and  cry, 
Love  and  hate. 

Obey  the  passions  that  move  you: 
Ihis  IS  honesty,  the  first  step  in  the  dirert.nn  ^f  ir      a 

^"'.he'tllerZ'hr^ufrf  ""  '"""''  "'  '■«  "Vision  upon 
Let  the  hierglyphics  that  are  carved  uoon  our  tn^u.  u 
We  Se^v^/at;"""  ^'^  ""'^  «<>  -V°"  '°""''  "'  "" 
wl  Zm  r'"'  °"'  '^=  <'°°^  'his  key  shall  unlock 

r;^'Xa°nTtrS'^'  °"  "-"-"^  open^lor  .hose  who 
And  taking  our  place  in  the  Land  of  Stars 

|£Kl    ^J-H^„tn^C°:- 

With  flowing  locks  and  loosened  robes 

The  trJJ     the?^^"^  '"u'^^  Kindergarden, 

^  ne  trees,  the  flowers,  the  busy  families  of  \\'«    tu- 

Oh  iT^'f  T^  ^^'^  children^d  ?e^  ly         ^^ ''  ^^^"^^  ^'" 
Oh  laugh  .laugh:  laugh:  ^' 

Our  children  will  be  so  god-like,  so  happy 


i».i 


it:  \- 


% 


i!.. 


40 
DEMOCRACY 


Songs  of  Earth 


Out  of  the  Heart  of  the  Infinite 

Wings  an  Unfettered  Bird; 

Out  of  the  embracing 

Of  sounds,  ideas,  words,  actions. 

Out  of  the  Concealed  Bomb  of  Nihilism, 

Out  of  the  Confusion  of  Anarchy, 

Out  of  the  Soil  of  my  Newly-Acquired  Land 

Socialism  my  landlord, 

Out  of  the  Atheistic  Negation  of  an  Oversoul, 

Out  of  the  Conscious  Vortex  of  Electrons, 

Out  of  the  Blind  Contact  of  Scientific  Atoms, 

Out  of  the  Prayer  of  Asceticism, 

Oil  of  the  Impulse  of  the  Voluptuary, 

Out  of  a  System  of  Dogmas, 

Out  of  the  Undogmatic  School  of  Nature, 

Joy  from  the  White  Lips  of  Pain, 

Pearls  from  the  Tearful  Eyes  of  Sorrow, 

Nonpartisanship  from  the  Clashing  of  Party  Platforms, 

Revolution  from  the  Knouted  Back  of  Slavery, 

Reformation  from  the  Bloody  Bayonets  of  Revolutionists, 

Out  of  the  midst  of  Death,  Life, 

Out  of  the  Eternal  Uses,  Eternity, 

Out  of  the  Knowledge  of  God 

Man's  relationship  to  Man 

And  the  Universe, 

Out  of  The  Stagnant  Pools,  Purity, 

Out  of  all  of  these, 

Out  of  all  Forms  of  Expression, 

The  Master  Force  whips  to  the  Surface 

The  Trillions  of  Lives 

Which  have  been  ceaselessly  building. 

Democracy. 


F' 


Songs  of  Earth 


41 


TO  THE  PROSTITUTF 

Songs  to  Mothers,  Virgins,  Lovers,  Children,  Heroes, 

My  song  to  the  Prostitute ; 

Come  you  outcast, 

Life  has  given  you  a  weary  task, 

It  has  made  your  body  the  vessel  in  which  is  poured  only  the 

Mouldy  Seeds  of  Passion; 

Poor  slave, 

Yet  master  of  the  men  that  command  you. 

Do  you  seek  to  forget  your  girlhood  ? 

The  lover  came, 

You  loved  and  gave  the  priceless  bounty  of  your  soul. 

And  he  gave  you  this  legacy, 

"All  men  are  liars." 

Weep,  weep, 

I  hold  you  close  within  my  arms, 

I  give  you  back  your  confidence  in  yourself. 

Who  am  I  that  I  should  sit  in  judgment  upon  one  of  God's 

Children? 
I  tear  off  your  Badge  of  Shame, 
Poor  broken  instrument  of  men's  desires, 
I  urge  you  on  to  greater  strength. 
Your  soul  is  white. 
White  as  a  virgin. 
It  waits  for  you  to  express  it  fully. 

LOVE  NEVER  LOVE  DENIED 

"Are  you  in  love  with  me"?  said  he, 
||Nay,  nay,"  the  maiden  sighed ; 
"I  am  in  love  with  Love,"  said  she, 
"This  truth  I  cannot  hide." 

"You  are  in  love  with  me,"  said  he, 
"I'll  take  you  for  my  bride"  ; 
"li  you  are  Love,  dear  one,"  said  she, 
"Love  never  love  denied." 


!l! 


I 


I    > 


y  I. 


,.    n 


;    i- 


42 


Songs  of  Earth 


1  AM  ALIVE 


I  am  alive; 

Every  atom,  cell,  ligament, 

Aerve,  muscle,  vein. 

Responds  to  the  touch  of  my  lover: 

Come,  Love  shall  wield  the  sceptre 

xS'nfA^l'  °'  T''t  M?'^""  ''"«  awakened. 

I  descend  into  the  Heart  of  the  Forest, 
1  he  ferns  become  a  couch, 
The  mterlacing  of  trees  become  a  canopy 
1  gallop  to  the  plains  of  the  West 

In  X"if  /,'^\^^r^"&th  which  manifests  itself 

In  the  bullock,  m  the  stallion: 

Over  endless  stretches  of  sand 

Into  the  desert  I  go; 

The  sun  burns  my  body. 

His  touch  is  cooling, 

A  greater  fire  burns  within  my  soul; 

The  mighty  roar  of  the  cataract  calU, 

Love  and  I  are  in  close  embrace. 

As  we  leap  into  the  Whirlpool 

Ihe  undercurrent  drags  us  to  the  edge  of  a  nrecioi.^ 

Atla^rYam  fref  '^^'^'  '"  ^^^'  ^^^"'^  ^^^~ 

And  the  equal  of  the  gods : 

I  rub  shoulders  with  ruffians. 

With  gentlemen, 

Mechanics,  laborers, 

Farmers,  shop-keepers. 

Lawyers,  philanthropists 

Scientists,  artists. 


Songs  of  Earth 

From  their  touch  I  am  moulded  anew; 

I  am  now  ready  for  work, 

I  seek  out  my  Poet-Lover 

Pressing  upon  his  lips 

The  Kiss  of  Prophecy; 

From  our  Spirit-Contact 

Springs  forth  a  New  Race ; 

That  which  was  born  in  the  Maelstrom  of  Oppression 

Vanishes  before  their  grim  approach ; 

Nature  is  quickened, 

She  lavishes  her  gifts  abundantly, 

Teaching  the  Law  of  Ebb  and  Flow; 

Only  to  transmute  do  I  descend  to  earth; 

And  when  men  pass  me  by  saving- 

"This  is  death,"  J'      ^    s* 

I  who  have  passed  through  countless  lives, 

I  who  have  countless  lives  before  me 

I  laugh, 

For  I  know  that  there  is  no  death. 

Only  life,  life,  life. 

Big,  robust,  strong,  virile  God-Life, 

Endless,  eternal. 


43 


MY  LITTLE  MIND 

From  ofi  the  Heights, 

My  Mind,  my  Little  Mind 

Would  sweep  me 

Into  a  Maze  of  Contradictions, 

Into  a  Cesspool  of  Doubts, 

But  my  soul  which  stands  unfettered 

Opens  its  eyes, 

Eyes  which  mirror  the  truth; 

And  before  that  All  Knowing  Look 

My  Mind,  my  Little  Mind 

Is  awed,  abashed  and  silenced. 


I 
i:: 


I 
if 


!f^ 


li.    I 


^'        i 


If'     ! 


44 

DEATH  OR  LIFE 


Songs  of  Earth 


I  am  Joy; 

Around  and  around  and  around  I  whirl 

Ughdy,  lightly  I  pirouette 

On  the  petals  of  roses ; 

My  body  is  lithe  and  slender, 

Dimly,  dimly  as  through  much  veilings 

Can  one  see  the  faint  Penciling  of  Womanhood: 

Love  plays  a  waltz  ' 

And  I  must  learn  the  rhythm, 

Softly,  softly,  musing  with  half-opened  lids 

Lids  concealing  eyes 

Of  mystic  wonderment. 

I  part  the  branches  of  the  trees 

And  wait, 

He  comes;   he  comes: 

What  madness  now  distorts  my  vision 

bending  the  blood  into  my  temples? 

This  is  not  he — 

Yet  comes  he  straight  to  me— 

This  is  the  trysting  place 

And  none  knew  of  it 

Save  we  two; 

It  was  whispered  to  us 

In  the  Land  where  Dreams  are  bom. 

His  head  seems  lost  amidst  the  foliage. 
His  limbs  appear  like  gnarled  trunks 
1  he  muscles  knotting  with  each  step. 
His  skin  a  ruddy  brown 
Through  which  the  play  of  blood 
Is  plainly  visible, 
He  wears  a  mask — 
I  fain  would  fly 

But  I  remain  rooted  to  the  spot. 
I  cry  out 


^1 


m 


Songs  of  Earth 


45 


But  my  voice  is  lost 

'Ere  it  has  had  an  utterance; 

Nearer,  nearer  he  comes — 

This  is  not  man, 

Some  one  it  is 

From  other  Worlds. 


"Come  love  come. 

This  is  our  dance," 

The  voice  is  strong,  appealing. 

The  underlying  note  sounding  the  key 

Of  a  commandment ; 

I  turn  upon  him  wildly, 

"I  wait  here  for  my  lover. 

You  are  not  he." 

He  laughs 

And  the  sky  repeating  the  echo 

Sends  forth  a  peal 

Making  the  very  mountains  tremble. 

"Come  Flower  of  Night, 
I  am  your  lover, 

Hark,  does  not  the  music  of  Love's  Waltz 

Call  us?" 

"Come,  come, 

Into  my  arms, 

I  shall  teach  you 

The  Dance  of  Love, 

With  each  movement 

You  will  become  a  part  of  it, 

Come  Slumbering  Soul, 

You  have  not  yet  awakened, 

xou  shall  dance 

Until  you  reach  the  Depths, 

Until  you  learn 

The  Rhythm  of  Love's  Passion." 


46 


Songs  of  Earth 


u 


1 1" 

w 


i 


I   . 

I  >- 

I  h~ 

h 
I  i. 


But  I  exclaim, 

"No;  no; 

I  see  now  who  you  are, 

You  are  Death, 

Death:   Death: 

Leave  me, 

1  have  not  sought  you. 

For  I  hate  you. 

Do  you  hear? 

1  hate  you, 

O  I  am  afraid: 

Your  presence  suffocates  me. 

You  shall  not  have  me. 

You  shall  not  master  me — 

0  let  me  go, 

1  am  an  unwilling  partner, 

0  let  me  go, 
Let  me  go." 

His  arms  clasp  me  tightly. 
His  kisses  burn  my  lips. 
They  fire  my  soul, 
They  cloud  my  reason ; 

1  am  powerless  to  resist  further- 
One,  two,  three. 

Turn  to  the  left 
Now  to  the  right. 
Now  together, 

We  dance  upon  the  points  of  stars, 
Circling  the  rim  of  the  moon ; 
A  tortoise  moves  across  the  sky 
We  leap  to  the  Flaming  World 
Between  its  shoulders; 
I  inhale  much  fire, 
But  it  is  he  that  warms  me ; 
Closer,  closer  our  bodies  cling- 
Now  do  we  glide  upon  floors  of  ice 


fc,i 


Songs  of  Earth 

Thin,  so  tliin — 

1  hear  a  rushing  sound. 

The  Covering  is  broken — 

Underneath  the  water  runs  warmly. 

"Death,  where  are  you  ?" 
I  exclaim, 

Death  has  removed  his  mask. 
He  IS  Life. 


47 


PROMETHEUS 

Prometheus,  you  gent.e  Son  of  God  • 

Tet/of  C  tMi„7f'  ^^^^^°"'  ^^^"  ^"'  '^^''  ^-^ 
You  stole  the  fires  of  Heaven  for  man. 
Becommg  an  exile  from  Nirvana. 
Roammg  from  World  into  World 

711."^  1 7:u%^%^^^  ^  "«  of  «"«.  ,a..  Kir., 

Ignorance  warms  its  liands  before  the  Bla».  ..-.t,i.:i 
As  ,f  ,,  were  ashamed  to  feel  the  Heat  of  Li?e  '''• 

De,.re^bsorbs  its  elemental  properties!  dl^lSj  forever  in  the 

For  only  then  do  swine  feel  the  Creatine  Kiss       ' 

'nl'ZoV^Wr^^^^^  Fires  burn- 

clean  lungs;  ^^^''  ^^  '^'^  ^'^^'^  ^^  ^^eir  strong, 

Be  of  good  cheer.  Lover  of  Man, 

Ood  long  ago  has  pardoned  you, 


48 


Songs  of  Earth 


■  It 


MY  SONG  OF  UNIVERSAL  BROTHERHOOD 

Shall  I  that  have  been  given  the  power  of  song,  sing  but  to 

please  those  that  stagnate  in  a  snug  content,  regardless 

of  the  fate  of  others? 
Shall  I  keep  my  eyes  fixed  upon  the  heavens  that  they  may 

not  behold  the  misery  upon  the  earth? 
Nay  but  I  will  not ; 
1  will  turn  my  gaze  upon  the  valleys  where  there  is  much 

darkness ; 
I  will  sing  the  cause  of  this  fearlessly; 
And  as  Night  retreats  before  the  advance  of  Day. 
So  shall  Oppression  retreat  before  my  song; 
Fire  your  shots  at  me, 
Riddle  me  with  your  Bullets  of  Scorn, 

Before  I  leave  this  earth  my  song  of  Universal  Brotherhood 
Shall  be  sung  by  a  mighty  chorus  of  Lover-Singers. 


T 


I   I 


MY  SOUL 

Shout  your  reproaches  in  my  ears, 

Say  of  my  soul,  "It  is  ambitious," 

Well,  I  acknowledge  it; 

Through  many  lives  I  passed  before  my  soul  put  on  a  Robe  of 
White, 

To  my  entreaties  that  I  am  but  flesh  and  blood,  my  soul  turns 
a  deaf  ear, 

I  am  vassal  to  my  soul, 

I  obey  commands  which  carry  me  upon  holy  missions. 

Oft'  must  I  remove  my  shoes  for  I  find  myself  upon  conse- 
crated ground; 

Once  a  god's  wing  brushed  past  my  face — and  I  swooned — 

Two  guardians  with  flaming  swords  flash  fire  about  my  soul, 

Shall  I  give  orders  to  one  that  is  on  speaking  terms  with 
gods? 

True  my  soul  is  ambitious,  but  like  Caesar,  it  is  Honorable. 


Songs  of  Earth 


49 


THE  HAND  OF  GOD 

As  far  as  the  eye  can  see, 

North,  South,  East,  West, 

Houses  of  stone,  of  wood. 

Stately  mansions  of  millionaires. 

The  modern  home  of  the  Middle-Man, 

The  cottage  of  the   Working-Man  with   its  bed  of  flowers, 

mostly  geraniums; 
The  tumble-down,  rough-cast  house  of  the  Laborer,  with  its 

back-yard  leading  to  the  railroad  tracks  and  its  front  view 

facing  an  alley ; 
The  pale-faced,  well-dressed  child  with  her  stiff  frock,  ruffled 

petticoats,  patent-leathered  shoes,  white  socks  and  thin 

legs; 
The  dozens  of  rosy-cheeked  and  plump  children  of  the  Middle 

and  Poorer  class,  some  half-naked  playing  in  the  streets 

and  in  the  gutters ; 
Ihe  dog  with  its  lolling  tongue. 

The  tired  horse  with  its  sweating  body  and  labored  tread. 
The  high-stepping  docked  horse  of  milady. 
The  Woman  of  Fashion  reclining  langorously  in  her  limousine, 
The  Joy-Riders, 
The  faded  faces  of  the  girls  that  come  laughing  and  giggling 

from  the  factories. 
The  begrimed  face  of  the  coal-driver. 

The  sycophantic  expression  of  the  prosperous  grocery-man, 
The  nervous  look  of  the  agent. 
The  buxom  form  of  the  house-wife. 
The  street  cars,  hand-organs,  wagons, 
Electric  poles,  telegraph  wires. 
The  hard  pavement. 
The  city-bred  trees, 
The  lawns  smooth  as  a  carpet, 
The  hemmed-in  bi      ^e, 
The  scorching  sun. 
The  thermometer  registering  ninety. 


Il 


50 


Songs  of  Earth 


1  strain  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  sky  ; 

"  S^'".\?^  ^'"'^  ^"'^  ^^'  ^"°"^^  ^  '^^^  «"  ^  stretch  of 
taded  blue  and  a  mass  of  threatening  clouds  • 

"^°n;,.?°^;"'^°^"'  ^  "^'  "^^'    '^'°"    '"    ^h;se    cramped 
quarters  ?  '^ 

The  clouds  begin  gathering  in  ominous  silence 
The  wmd  taking  on  a  new  lease  of  life  rushes  wildly  through 
the  trees;  and  then  as  if  in  delight  at  ^he  commotion  he 

ov"  The';kyr''  ''""^'  '''  '"'  ™'"      """""^  ^'^"^ 
The  sun  forgets  to  smile  withdrawing  from  the  scene  of  the 
commg  battle ; 

Hark  the  signal  is  given  and  the  sky  catching  the  meaning  of 
the  command,  flashes  a  torch  of  fire ; 

The  gods  send  their  cannon-balls  spinning  through  the  worlds 
of  space ; 

The  wind  moans  and  shrieks  around  the  house-tops 
The  trees  uplift  their  many  arms  waving    them    frantically 
above  their  heads;  ^ 

Another  tongue  of  fire—a  crash- 
Wires  and  poles  fall  in  a  tangled  mass  • 
The  heavens  weep  and  weep  through  'the  conflict, 
I'he  volley  of  firing  ceases, 
The  sun  appears  from  behind  a  cloud. 
The  wail  of  the  wind  ends  in  a  long-drawn  sigh 
Once  more  I  lift  up  mv  head. 
Blue,  blue,  endless  str;tches  of  blue  with  white  veils  caught 

on  the  points  of  invisible  stars ; 
Through  all,  over  and  under,  stretching  from  heaven  to  earth 
Spans  the  Hand  of  God. 


i:i 


Songs  of  Earth 


51 


HE  WAS  MADE  TO  LOVE 

He  was  made  to  love; 

Tall,  straight  as  a  sapling 

Whose  roots  have  found  the  center  of  a  fertile  soil, 

And  whose  young  branches  lifting  up  their  heads 

Stencilled  the  sky  with  figures  wierd,  fantastic. 

He  was  made  to  love; 

In  his  eyes  a  fire  burned, 

And  ever  and  anon 

Blue-white  sparks  leaped  from  those  kindly  eyes. 

Like  the  sparks  which  mingle  with  the  wind 

When  the  blacksmith  strikes  a  heavy  blow 
Upon  the  anvil. 

He  was  made  to  love ; 

I  saw  the  Superman  within  his  glance 

And  smiled  upon  him  happily; 

From  my  eyes  kindred  sparks 

Of  blue-white  flame  arose — 

He  saw  the  Superwoman — 

Two  hero-worshippers  were  we? 

What  odds? 

He  loved  me 

And  I  loved  him. 


I 


i-ii 

s 


m  i 


I! 


Ri    J 


(i    ! 


52 


Songs  of  Earth 


THE  MOTHER  ISIS 

I  salute  thee, 

Thou  Temple  of  Mystery 

With  thy  Three-Chambered  Dome 

Uplifting  its  burnished  head. 

To  the  greeting  of  the  sun. 

Holy  Adoration,  Intellect,  I.ove, 
^he  Three  in  One, 
ihe  One  My  Self. 

1  watch  thy  worshipping  throng 

Silently  entering. 

Sucking  babes, 

Children  of  sLx,  eight  and  ten, 

\Vith  fairy-books  tucked  under  their  arms. 

bweets  and  goodies  and  dolls- 
Maidens  in  all  the  wonderment  of  flowering 
Boys  in  all  the  sweating  of  the  ripening, 

1  he  shyness  of  sweet  sLxteen, 

The  restlessness  of  twenty 

Urged  on  by  a  masterful  impulse. 

The  Bird  of  Thought 

With  Clipped  Wings, 

Love-Gods, 

Their  tiny  fires  need  but  an  April  Shower 

And  they  are  extinguished. 

Dark-faced  women 

With  burning  eyes, 

And  dry.  red  lips. 

Thirst,  thirsty, 

For  the  Molten  Lava  of  Love, 

Abandoned  Personalities 

Bemoaning  unfaithfulness. 

The  Unveiled  one 


I: 


Walking  uncovered, 
passions. 


Freed  of 


JIIUIIIlUi...t<mwMWWi 


Songs  of  Earth 

Reflecting  the  Glory  of  God 
Upon  the  Underworld, 
Gathering  up  the  Combs  of  Honey 
But  tasting  not  of  their  sweets. 


53 


The  Mother  Isis, 

The  Eternal  Mother, 

Is  seated  with  her  Dove  of  Peace, 

She  guards  the  Upper  Dome ; 

From  a  Flaming  Bowl 

She  scatters  Creative  Seeds, 

She  welcomes  The  Motley  Crowd, 

Calling  these  children 

Her  own. 


LOVE  GREW 

Love  came: 

Winter  silently  withdrew 

Leaving  my  heart 

Light,  merry  and  joyous. 

Filled  with  the  Gladness  of  Spring. 

Love  came: 

Like  a  tiny  blossom, 

I  marvelled  at  its  strength, 

Its  tender  coloring, 

Its  eagerness  to  unfold  and  grow. 


Love  grew : 

By  bending  back  its  petals 

And  dropping  from  the  Treasure-House 

The  Golden  Seeds  of  Truth. 


54 


* 


5. 


>'    I 


Songs  of  Earth 


LO-  I  COME  FORTH  ANOTHER  BEING 

The  trees  stand  entranced,  motionless 
And  only  an  occLTonal  rcL^  ont^^^^ 

My  arms  embrace, 
My  lips  give  kisses, 
But  after  this  outburst 

From  my  touch, 

For  I  have  gazed  upon  the  Head  nf  =:«„     . 

tffV^y  do  I  tu?;,  ,0  stone?      '  ^'^"'" 

fier«d'';L^u^r.hrhee7""^'''  "P°"  ""  battle  field 
olpl'nt'Mo:™!  upoTtt  f'  ""'ri^"  """- 

ot£XS:iF  "-5:^^ttoJy--  -  -« 

Be^lf.nVS.S''^ -"""--^  ■'■^  Enemy 

1  hat  which  vou  have 

xou  want  not; 

Shall  I  point  vou  out  tn  Dpt^H' 

How  pale  becomes  you^  cheek 


Songs  of  Earth 

How  faint  becomes  Life's  Beat, 

I  sacrifice  you 

Upon  the  Altar  of  Humanity — 

I  am  released,  unbound, 

I  call, 

"Death,  death,  death. 

Come  sup  with  me. 

Others  may  bar  their  doors. 

Permitting  you  to  break  bread  with  them 

When  you  have  forced  an  entrance ; 

But  I — I  have  my  portals  unlocked, 

I  bid  you  come, 

I  give  you  welcome," 

But  Death  has  drawn  his  mantle  over  his  face, 

Vanquished,  he  retreats; 

And  when  I  gaze  upon  his  face  again 

Lo — I  come  forth  Another  Being. 


55 


RULE  OVER  THE  EMPIRE  OF  SELF 

I  am  sick  of  projecting  empty  shells, 

Of  sham  battles. 

Of  fighting  phantoms, 

To-day  I  prepare  for  war  in  dead  earnest: 

I  send  forth  a  volley  of  shot, 

It  is  my  signal, 

Those  that  endeavor  to  prevent  the  prophets  from  scattering 
the  seeds  of  truth,  from  revealing  to  Man  the  purpose  o* 
life,  shall  throw  their  mantles  over  their  heads  and  in 
terror  creep  back  to  their  Wilderness. 

The  Black  Magicians  that  seek  with  sorcery  to  secure  the 
Treasures  of  The  Universal  Storehouse  shall  hear  the 
echo  of  my  thunderbolt  and  release  their  holdings  from 
their  greedy  grasp. 


56 


it  i 


Songs  of  Earth 


Who  shall  conquer  me? 

I  hurl  defiance  into  the  very  Jaws  of  Death  • 

^ome  you  grinning  monsters  with  your  eyes  aflam* 

Your  mouths  out-pouring  sulphur.  ^        ^'"'' 

Vour  shmy  bodies, 

Your  goat's  feet, 

Your  horned  claws. 

Take  .h.s  for  my  answer,  you  Lying  Sod 
Truth  has  prepared  my  soul  for  a  gfeat  battle 
The  sun  shall  stand  still,  ' 

It  will  be  An  Endless  Day 
Until  all  slaves  are  free 


S 


I     '.      fj 


Songs  of  Earth 


57 


THE  SONG  OF  LIBERTY 

Hark  to  the  big,  strong,  tones  of  the  Natural  Singers ; 

They  have  found  the  music  of  the  Source  of  Life. 

They  have  learned  the  rhythm  of  its  beat; 

They  never  change  their  attack  for  the  drawing-room  or  the 

coal-shaft ; 
No  artificial  methods  are  used, 
These  singers  need  no  veneer, 
Their  solid  character  appears  upon  the  surface, 
They  are  the  honest  singers ; 

And  if  occasionally  their  voices,  husky  with  emotion 
Grate  upon  the  hypersensitive  ear  of  the  aristocracy. 
We  of  the  common  people  catch  the  swing  of  their  music. 
Joining  in  the  chorus. 
Hark  to  the  Painter-Singers ; 

Their  tones  are  polished  and  full  of  glorious  harmonies, 
For  these  the  Storms  of  Life  are  but  Nature's  Mirror 
Upon  which  Truth  breathes  her  notes  in  rainbow  hues; 
Hark  to  the  Poet-Singers; 
The  Golden- Voiced  Prophets, 
Sing  with  them  a  Song  of  All  Ages, 
Of  all  civilizations, 

It  is  arranged  in  all  keys  to  suit  all  voices, 
It  is  The  Song  of  Liberty. 

Hark  to  the  singers  whose  songs  are  but  for  a  day ; 
They  smg  through  practise. 
Through  mimicry, 

Through  assimilation  with  other  singers; 
Take  heed  my  people  even  to  these  Little  Ones, 
It  IS  important  that  men  sing, 
That  their  songs  are  heard. 
Life  needs  a  muli    ade  of  singers, 
Let  all  sing  keeping  with'  i  the  compass  of  their  own  register. 


58 


Songs  of  Earth 


M 

I   I 


I; 


LORD  I  LOVE  THEE 

Out  of  my  body 
Into  my  desires, 
Passed  Desire 
Into  Mind, 
Beyond  the  Mind 
Into  Spirit; 
Up,  Up,  Up, 

Through  the  Reflector  of  Aspiration  and  Inspiration 

Ihrough  the  room  above, 

Now  am  I  on  the  roof, 

Through  the  air 

Into  the  Land  of  Ether, 

Through  the  Waters  of  Illusion 

Into  the  Mirror  of  Light, 

Through  the  Reflection  of  Aspiration  and  Inspiration 

Into  a  Land  of  Non-Sentient  Beings, 

Into  the  Domain  of  the  Hierarchies ' 

Beyond  the  Hierarchies 

Into  Space; 

On  The  Throne  Sits  One 

Before  Whom  my  spirit 

Kneels  and  sings, 

"Lord,  I  love  Thee." 


Songs  of  Earth 


59 


A  REVERY 

I  catch  hold  of  the  clinging  skirt  of  the  Robe  of  Silence  and 
running  my  hands  down  its  length,  I  raise  the  hem  rever- 
ently to  my  lips. 

I  am  an  Arabian, 

Daughter  of  Nabaioth,  who  was  the  son  of  Ishmael,  who  was 
the  son  of  Abraham,  who  was  a  Son  of  God. 

1  move  across  the  desert,  driving  my  Father's  Sheep  into  the 
Land  of  Green  Pastures. 

I  enter  my  Father's  House  of  Many  Mansions  and  find  therein 
balsam,  myrrh,  francincense,  perfumes  and  food  of  sweet 
savors. 

When  the  Curtains  of  Night  are  drawn  across  The  Day,  I 
steal  from  out  my  tent, 

Around  me  are  the  tents  of  my  kinsmen,  I  know  them  by  the 
spears  which  stand  before  each  opening. 

I  recline  full-length  upon  a  rug, 

The  backs  of  the  sheep  glisten  like  a  silvery  mantle  under  the 
drowsy  stars. 

The  camels  like  a  circle  of  sand-dunes  outline  the  purple  color- 
ing of  the  sky. 

The  fine-bred  steeds,  ever  quivering  to  use  their  Wings  of 
Flight,  now  sleep  peacefully,  save  one,  more  fiery  than 
the  rest  challenges  the  Startled  Night, 

The  wind  caresses  my  cheek,  whispering  Love's  Choice 
Secrets 

Into  my  willing  ear, 

I  permit  the  Master  Archer  to  pierce  my  heart  knowing  that 
I  shall  be  mortally  wounded. 

I  wonder  if  the  Great  Tempter  has  forced  men  and  women 

into  a  partnership  in  the  Game  of  Life? 
I  wonder  if  he  shuffles  the  cards  for  us  and  that  no  matter 

how  earnestly  we  play,  he  holds  the  Winning  Hand? 
Let  him  stack  the  cards. 


H\ 

i 


60 


Songs  of  Earth 


\\ 


The  Great  God  of  Love  holds  our  spirit  in  His  Deck  He 
He'knn'  'T^  ^'^-^  ^^P'^^'  "P°"  The  Shifting  Boa^d! 
Ws-He^'llno^r  ''  ^^^'  ^°'"^  ^^  -'"  -^°-'  ^^ 

'^'^^hfrTee'^orUfe''"^'  '"  ''''  ^"'^"  °^  P"^^'-'  "P- 
^"^  ^qiefors^^""^  ^°  '"^"'  "^^  """'*  ^''°^^  ^°"^  °^  G°^'  Con- 

""^^  M7v^W"ak°"of  &:i''''^^  ''^  Sym,U,.,es,   The 

n  |P"I*^  sucking  at  the  Breasts  of  Future, 
O  Soul  of  Past  Decades, 

0  Mind  of  Treason, 

"""ihXrwi.'^hTh:  f:Z]  ""  "'  "  ^-^''  -  -'  °-  way 

1  call  upon  Our  God : 

"^TdTentu'rer^s/'""'"''"'  '"'  P^"^^"^  '^'  Spirit,  of  the 

^^^  11^  tu^  ^^^^'7  P^^^«^  the  Crushing  Forces  of  Desi.e  h„f 

the  Threatening  Clouds  of  Custom^  of  VVorn  Out  IdeaU 
Tenacious  as  a  leach,  hover  o'er  us.  ' 

Must  we  indeed  be  like  Medea? 

Must^we  dismember  the  Faith  of  our  fathers  to  escape  with 

Long,  long  ago  the  Ram  was  sacrificed. 
w-.S  ^^""cK^J"^  ^^°°^  °f  The  Lamb? 
''  '"'nTit'ol^^^^^^^^^^  ^-^-  of  Hope,  draw- 

THE  PINIONS  OF  MOTHER-LOVE 
My  mother  smiled  upon  me; 

And  straightway  from  the  deepest  Hell 
1  arose. 

Borne  upon  the  Pinions  of  Mother-Love. 


Songs  of  Earth 

FOR  THOSE  WHO  HAVE  EYES  TO  SEE 

The  sand, 

The  pebbles, 

The  many  shells  emptied  of  their  tenants 

Strewn  along  the  beach ; 

The  myriads  of  creeping  things 

Kissed  into  life  by  the  warmth  of  the  sun, 

The  sand  pipers  with  their  tiny  steps 

And  rapid  movements  picking  up  the  wave's  offering; 

The  butterflies  imbedded  in  the  sand, 

Their  broken  wings  moving  feebly; 

Here  is  a  fossil, 

How  long  did  Medusa  gaze  upon  it 

Before  it  turned  to  stone? 

The  tree  stumps  resembling  a  race 

From  the  antideluvian  period. 

They  stand  like  sentinels 

Guarding  the  shore ; 

The  sea-gulls  unfurl  their  sails 

Dipping  now  to  the  right, 

Now  to  the  left. 

How  I  love  to  watch  them 

Breast  the  waves : 

How  I  love  to  hear 

Their  strong  calls. 

Each  to  the  other; 

Far  oflF  against  the  horizon 

A  steamer  moves, 

The  chimney-stack,  pencils  the  sky 

With  figures  weird,  fantastic; 

I  hear  the  music  of  the  waves 

Or  is  it  the  wind 

Singing  a  lullaby  to  them? 

I  behold  many  faces 

Peering  into  the  depths. 

The  light  of  their  eyes 


61 


M  hr;':' 


9  . 


l\ 


^^  Songs  of  Earth 

Parts  the  waters; 

Hovy  silvery-sweet  is  the  siren's  call: 

1  ride  the  air  to  whisper, 

"Take  care,  take  care"; 

The  wh'te-caps  toss  about 

Eager  lo  reach  the  shore. 

Mighty  is  their  passion. 

Upon  the  beach  they  leap, 

Their  desire  spent 

They  return  to  gather  strength 

For  another  embrace; 

0  Waters  of  Unrest 

\yill  you  never  cease  to  throw 
Your  giant  limbs  about? 

1  catch  the  echo  of  an  answer 
Recorded  in  a  shell, 

"When  the  last  man  sleeps 

I  will  become  his  Pillow  of  Peace." 


f    ! 


HARK  TO  THE  CHIMING  OF  BELLS 

Hark  to  the  chiming  of  bells. 

Ringing  from  world  to  world' 

Higher  and  higher  the  strains. 

Finer  and  finer  the  tones. 

Until  I  hear  the  melody 

Played  upon  the  Eardrums  of  mv  soul  • 

rorms  of  gigantic  size 

Moving  across  the  sky; 

Massive  heads  shrouded  in  veils  of  clouds. 

Iheir  eyes  gazing  forever 

Into  the  Future; 

I  see  them. 

They  see  me. 

Yet  they  give  no  sign  of  recognition. 


Mm 


Songs  of  Earth 

LORD,  HERE  AM  I 

Humanity:    Humanity:    Humanity: 

You  must  be  freed: 

Since  Egypt's  mighty  days 

Mummified  you  have  been; 

Come  stretch  your  stiffened  limbs 

Lift  up  your  bandaged  hands, 

I  Unwrap  the  Binding  Bands  of  Suppression 

bome  thousand  days  have  you  slept 

With  eyeballs  rolled  up  into  a  head 

That  only  saw  the  Me; 

I  take  your  heart  out  of  its  Vase  of  Selfishness. 

I  scatter  the  dead  rose-leaves, 

\our  vital  organs  imprisoned 

At  the  four  corners  of  the  earth 

I  now  set  free; 

Now  that  you  feel  the  rhythmic  music  of  your  heart 

Why  play  the  Melody  of  Life 

Upon  a  Lyre  of  Broken  Strings? 

Cast  off  the  old. 

Fashion  for  your  present  need 

An  Instrument  tuned  to  the  voice 

Of  your  Awakened  Spirit ; 

Too  long  have  you  sought 

To  hold  the  Outer  Form, 

Too  long  have  you  breathed 

The  air  of  tombs; 

To-Day  I  link  you  with  that 

Te'vtrTt  Thread""'"''  ""  P""""-"^ 

As  a  God-Fed  Child, 
Smooth  of  skin. 
Sinewy  of  muscle. 
Soft  of  speech, 


63 


64 


r 


i  ^ 


I  I 


Songs  of  Earth 


P  Ji^l^-^  '''°'^.u""^^r  which  are  two  gleaming  stars 

Reflecting  in  the  Mirrors  of  Sight  • 

I  enibalm  this  Newly-Awakened  Body 

With  the  Fluid  of  Love; 

Arise, 

The  Angels  of  The  Lord  have  opened 
1  he  Gates  of  Paradise, 
Follow  the  Path  of  Compassion, 
Wisdom  will  wind  his  arms  about  you 
Leading  you  step  by  step 

i"nS  li^  Z^^-^y  ""J^^^  Anointed  Ones; 
And  the  Voice  of  God, 

Fiery-Cool, 

Will  call  upon  your  name ; 
And  you  will  not  hide  but  answer. 
Lord,  here  am  I, 
Naked  and  Unashamed." 


m 


lif 

ltl' 
fr 


AWAKE:   AW^AKE:  AWAKE: 

Awake,  awake,  awake, 
fis  the  Bugle  Call  of  Day; 

Darkness  gathering  her  clinging  skirts  about  her 
Flies  beyond  the  Portals  of  the  Horizon; 

W  T  V"'""'.  li^^°"^  °f  '■a'nbow  hues 
Into  the  Lap  of  Earth ; 

The  flowers  lift  up  their  heads, 

And  the  wind  carries  in  his  puffy  cheeks; 

The  fragrance  of  their  breath; 

Tn  J^^i,  """^  ^^u  'i'^'  '*''^'"  their  throats 
In  homage  to  the  Page  of  Day  • 

And  he  beaming  with  paternal' pride 
Caresses  all  that  arise  to  greet  him, 
For  in  his  Magic  Kiss 
Lies  the  Seeds  of  Production. 


Songs  of  Earth  65 

THE  ETERNAL  DREAM  OF  GOD 

O  Humanity: 

Stretch  your  huge  limbs  and  awaken. 

Open  your  eyes  and  gaze  with  a  clear  vision  into  the  Dawn 
of  a  New  Day; 

Come  the  sun  shall  not  dazzle  you  with  his  bolts  of  light 

You  will  give  him  back  look  for  look; 

Are  you  not  a  god  sending  your  creative-force  through 

Ihe  Universe  and  filling  it  with  productiveness? 
Creator  of  children, 

Builder  of  Temples  in  which  the  soul  is  plainly  visible  • 
Transmuter  of  Base  Metals  into  Gold ; 
Entering  into  the  Spirit  of  the  Great  Plan 
Co- Worker  in  the  Uplifting; 
O  to  make  Man  realize  his  God-Like  Attributes 
To  arouse  him  from  the  Lethargy  of  Inherited  Earth  Ten- 
dencies, 

To  make  him  become  cognizant  of  his  Immortal  Legacy 
urging  him  to  use  his  Wealth ;  ^  ^' 

O  that  Man  might  realize  that  he  is  not  made  of  tae  "stuff  of 
dreams  which  fade  with  the  morning  light,  or  lie  shat- 
tered in  the  grave, 

But  that  he  is  the  Eternal  Dream  of  God. 


BEYOND  ALL  THESE 

The  Love  of  a  lover 

Is  a  wondrous  gift, 

The  love  of  a  friend 

A  priceless  jewel. 

The  love  of  a  child, 

A  holy  love. 

But  beyond  all  these 

Is  the  love 

Of  My  Saintly  Mother. 


I    l;l'i 


66 


Songs  of  Earth 


II 


I 


i 


AGAINST  THEIR  WILL  MEN  MUST  LOOK  UP 

O  sighing  breeze, 

0  breeze-kissed  trees, 
Down  and  up, 
From  side  to  side. 
Swaying  and  praying, 
Tossing  and  crossing, 
Moaning  and  groaning, 
The  earth  splits  in  twain 

As  you  push  your  gigantic  feet  through  it. 

1  look  upon  your  well-knit  body 
With  its  homy  coat  of  armour; 
I  see  you  gently  rocking 

With  each  gust  of  Universal  Breath ; 

I  watch  your  thousand  arms 

Beckoning,  beckoning, 

Drawing  in, 

Giving  out, 

Embracing, 

Interlacing, 

Nodding  in  the  affirmative. 

Nodding  in  the  negative. 

Turning  your  palms  up  to  the  sun 

To  be  caressed. 

And  then  turning  them  downward ; 

Lock  your  fingers 

And  make  a  seat  for  me, 

Up,  up,  up, 

0  the  exhilaration  of  that  upward  swing! 

1  close  my  eyes. 
Whilst  you  rock  me 
In  your  mighty  arms ; 
Higher,  higher,  higher, 
One,  two,  three, 
Onto  a  cloud  I  leap : 
Over  I  roll, 


/ii 


m 


Songs  of  Earth 

Over  and  over — 

1  am  breathless: 

Now  have  I  regained  my  poise, 

And  seated  upon  this  cloud 

I  sail  majestically; 

How  small  art  the  Beings 

That  walk  upon  the  earth : 

"Halloa:  hallao:  hallao." 

See— they  are  looking  up : 

"What  mad  creature  sits  there"? 

I  hear  them  whisper; 

"Come  up !  come  up !  come  up  I" 

I  cry; 

But  they  again  whisper, 

"She  is  mad!  mad!  mad!" 

And  I  am  glad 

That  men  call  that  which  flies  above  their  heads 

"Madness!" 

For  against  their  will 

They  must  look  up. 


67 


COLOSSAL  SHADOWS 

Love  you  are  a  tyrant; 

Wisdom,  Age,  Youth, 

The  Grim,  the  Gay, 

Bow  their  heads 

Subservient  to  your  will— 

O  subtle  master 

Luring  Man  on  with  promises 

Of  Mighty  Things, 

Big  Moments  to  be  reached,  attained — 

Play  fair, 

Tell  Man  that  vou  are  an  Eternal  Projector 

Of  Colossal  Shadows. 


68 


!. 


Songs  of  Earth 


1 1 


I  ^1 


'I 


PRISON  KEY,  TORONTO,  JAIL.  1914 

They  fashioned  me  of  chilled  steel 

Into  a  gigantic  key; 

For  sixty  years  I  have  turned  the  lock 

Upon  men  and  women ; 

5"ck;  and  into  the  sunlight 

A  shufflmg  form  no  longer  wanders; 

Otw/*  they  hear  my  voice  grow  sullen. 

Others  grow  defiant,  ' 

A  few  pour  forth  a  volley  of  oaths 

borne  sneer  and  shrug  their  shouldirs; 

At  times  when  I  lock  the  door 

Upon  a  shrieking  woman 

rhl^"'°''  ^""^  ^^'■^"fi^^  ">y  steeled  heart. 

Totk^lELIJ??^*"^  "^^^  "^^  ^^- 
Like  Methusalah,  weary  of  life 
I  would  pray  for  death 
Ir  the  sorrow  of  my  ordained  work 
um  not  contain  a  wondrous  joy. 

l?l-  ?°"8^*»  I  click  the  lock     ^ 
Which  shuts  them  in, 
I  also  click  the  lock  ' 
Which  lets  them  out. 

LOVE  STANDS  BEFORE  ME 

Love  stands  before  me: 

Into  his  treasure-house 

I  reach  for  wealth; 

The  more  I  take 

The  more  I  have  to  give, 

The  more  I  give 

The  more  there  is  to  take. 


Songs  of  Earth 


69 


SPACE:  SPACE:  SPACE: 

Space,  space,  space, 

Boundless  Space: 

Into  your  arms  I  leap, 

Up  and  down, 

Across  and  under. 

When  I  am  still. 

When  I  am  in  action. 

Forever  and  forever 

Am  I  in  space; 

Your  giant  arms  seat  me 

On  the  Brink  of  the  sky. 

They  swing  me 

Into  the  Lap  of  Earth ; 

Now  in  the  water 

I  sport  with  you; 

And  ever  and  ever 

The  sirens  call, 

"Come  dance,  come  dance,  come  dance  with  me," 

But  I  reply, 

"I  am  a  faithful  partner, 

Those  wlio  have  danced  with  me 

Have  glided  into  Realms  of  Joy, 

Into  bliss  eternal," 

I  am  strong, 

My  body  is  lithe, 

My  brain  is  clear, 

My  eyes  see  beyond  horizons. 

My  touch  is  full  of  tender  passion, 

I  welcome  you 

Into  my  arms, 

But  you  must  be  Big, 

For  I  like  not  Small  People ; 

Those  who  dance  with  me 

Must  give  back  kiss  for  kiss; 

Come  you  Daughters  of  Fire, 


m  - 


70 


Songs  of  £arth 


N 


You  Sons  of  Light, 

The  Nuptial  Couch  is  prepared. 

1  he  Bridegroom  waits  for  the  Bride. 

The  Bride  waits  for  the  Bridegroom! 

DAY 

Day   big.eyed,  tender  of  mouth,  soft  of  soeech 

Your "sfenT;  '^'''^'- ''  ^^'  ^^^^^  Scad  ofMomin.. 
AnS  f r  -r  ^'^'^•'V?  fi^'^^«^  w'th  sky-blue  tinTs   *^' 

^"^"nfoTtrru'nii^e^^^"^"^  ^°^^--  ^^^  P^""'-d  golden 

Day,  sparkling-eyed,  smiling-lipped.  deep-voiced 
Your  liquid  throat  pours  forth  the  Son|so    Love- 
Maternity  lies  upon  your  heaving  bosoil  ' 

^"Vr^S'gX  ^"-  ^--  ^'e  questioning  faces  of  em- 
Day   drowsy-eyed,      owy-browed,  strone  of  limb 

Sleep  holds  you  .ightly  in  his  arms, 

C'ior"""«  '°""'  »»«>«••»  o»t  the  lines  of  Action's 

Day,  released  at  last. 

Through  the  Universe  you  soar. 

Kissing  the  Lids  of  Darkness 

And  opening  them  into  Worlds  of  Light. 

GOD  AND  MY  MOTHER 

God  and  my  Mother. 

By  sounding  These  Two  Names 

I  know  that  I  am. 

That  God  U, 

That  Life  is  not  an  illusion. 


Songs  of  Earth 

ROLL  ON  YOU  THUNDER-CLOUDS 

Roll  on  you  thunder  clouds, 
I  love  you ; 

As  you  march  across  the  sky 
Cloud  sh?'l  meet  cloud, 

Men  sh'  i  iie;>.  your  thunderous  greetings 
Each  CO  ti  <*  o+bf 

0  ho.v  I  ijve  thj  ir.  p   ty  volume  of  your  voices: 

The  Pish  ng  of  y:ur  ^   es: 
T'.-.t  -  ■ea'-  j^  ■■>■  your     odies 
t'ornu  iji'  v.r>5tiii  droj'.^ 

1  1'  cd  v.i.'.  tl.e  ^  •  i£?i':  Potion  of  Growth; 
Larih  Si  p     -ill*  cf  her  bath  refreshed; 
And  JUik  \^.\'i^  irto  its  lungs 

A  New  Born  Atiaos-.  here. 


71 


EGO 

Ego:  Ego: 

We  two  have  long  been  friends. 

Of  late  I  note  you  move  away 

As  if  too  much  I  crowd  you; 

Your  cheeks  have  taken  on 

A  puffy  contour, 

And  your  abdomen — 

O  friend  of  mine: 

Protrudes  in  fashion 

Most  ludicrous  and  bomb.  -  tic; 

Ego,  I  fear  me  much 

That  Self-Aggrandizement, 

A  conscious  knowledge  of  your  Sweet  Virtues 

Have  caused  within  you 

That  which  is  called  A  Swelling; 

Nay,  Nay, 

Do  not  remonstrate  noble  friend. 


72 


Songs  of  Earth 


1  I 


ft 


In  sooth  I  say, 

^is  what  men  call  Inflatus; 

And  filled  It  with  imagfnaiy  forms 
Of  your  own  greatness ;      ^ 

rZT^.?^  I^in-Pricks  noble  friend. 
1  hought-waves 

^"y  njild  combustion, 

if  «y     pierce  you, 

Aheyll  condense  your  size 

t"1  ^"^l"^  ^'^^  "'^'"  be  obliged 

lo  hold  your  nose  most  high; 

Self-Conscous  Virtues  form  a  Gas 

An  Odious  Vapor, 

In  which  foul  air  ' 

No  Living  Thing  can  last. 

THE  "OPEx>r  SESAME"  INTO  HAPPINESS 
Send  down  a  thunderbolt  Great  God: 

ritii,     r  '"  *°"^"^^  "^^  Waters  of  Wrath 
Unsheath  your  swords,  O  warriors  ' 

Scream,  wail,  shout,  ' 

Kill  out  Man's  Inhumanity  to  Man 
Stop  shakuig  your  fists 

K?nSf''rr"'T^''  Constitutions, 
Kmgs,  Churches,  Capitalism. 
Root  out  the  Cancer  of  t.fe 
Mail's  Selfishness; 
Universal  Brotherhood 
That  must  be  our  battle-cry; 
Stand  by  the  Weak,  the  Kalian 
r  's  for  this  that  you  have  strength 

'he    Open  Sesame"  Into  Eternity. 


^wm 


Songs  of  Earth 


73 


heads    upon    Younger 


MOON:   MOON:  MOON: 

Moon,  Moon,  Moon, 

Silver-lipped  and  golden-tipped 

Pilot  at  the  Helm  of  Night, 

I  watch  your  many  shadows  dancing  upon  the  housetops, 

Your  searchlight  penetrating  where  leaves  are  thickest  on 

the  trees. 
Where  birds  sleep  in  their  nests, 
Why  does  your  fiery  lover  tarry? 
Arise,  Sun  Arise, 
And  release  your  waiting  bride  from  her  night-long  vigil. 

Ah  Blessed  Moon, 

Your  sons  have  grown  to  Manhood, 

They  have  crept  away  to  rest  their 

Bosoms, 

But  yours  is  the  glory  for  ever  and  ever. 
In  your  womb  they  grew, 
Upon  your  breasts  they  fed. 

And  although  your  house  stands  empty,  be  not  desolate, 
A  mighty  race  of  men  still  call  you,  Mother. 

Beam  not  coldly  upon  the  earth,  sweet  Moon 

Because  your  sons  are  housed  with  her, 

Earth's  Day  of  Activity  will  end,  her  Sabbath  come 

And  your  sons  will  again  go  forth  to  greet  A  New  Bride. 

THE  MIRACLE  OF  MIRACLES 

The  miracle  of  miracles  is  the  Mother-Love : 

In  the  teats  of  the  mother-animal  flows  the  same  love-milk 

As  that  which  flows  in  the  breasts  of  woman; 

Of  all  the  passions,  the  Mother-Love  is  the  sweetest,  the 

maddest,  the  most  satisfying; 
It  is  inherited  from  the  One  Great  Passion  of  God, 
The  Desire  which  Expressed  Itself  in  Creation. 


74 


Songs  of  Earth 


I 


if 

i 

i 
t 

i- 
llll 


THE  WIND  CALLS 

The  wind  calls, 

ph  you :  oh  you :  oh  you  : 

I  catch  hold  of  his  streaming  locks 

And  sail  through  the  world  with  him: 

We  chmb  to  the  tree-tops, 

Then  swmgto  the  gables; 

We  beat  a  tattoo  on  the  window-pane. 

We  whirl  upon  the  roof,  ^      ' 

We  rush  into  the  chimney-stack 

Down  to  the  heart  or  the  flame  ; 

Ihe  coals  throw  fiery  kisses 

As  we  bid  them  a  stormy  farewell  • 

We  cut  the  clouds  in  twain,  ' 

We  push  them  against  each  other. 

We  howl  as  they  weep  with  rage. 

Ihen  we  spring  to  the  world  of  ether. 

Over  the  shining  stars 

Lightly  we  glide  along. 

Scarce  touching  the  youthful  worlds; 

Age  waits  for  our  strength 

To  leap  to  Eternity; 

Here  is  a  Manly  World, 

Were  a  Maidenly  one, 

We  propell  to  each  other's  arms; 

And  a  new  world  forms 

In  the  Womb  of  Matter. 

I  have  seen  the  birth  of  stars. 

Their  growth  and  their  decay. 

They  know  no  more  than  we. 

They  wait  for  what  we  expect; 
Wind:  wind:  wind: 

Drop  me  gently  to  earth. 

Of  all  worlds 'tis  but  a  speck, 

t"  ♦u*"  A'*''!'*^  •*"*  a  speck 
To  the  Infinite  Mind. 


Songs  of  Earth 

THE  CRUCIFIXION 

'Tis  true  I  wooed  you; 

And  for  that  great  sin 

Shall  I  upbraided  be? 

'Tis  true  I  spoke 

The  Magic  Word  of  Love 

Into  your  Heavy  Ear ; 

I  placed  within  your  keeping 

My  possessions; 

'Tis  true  I  followed  you, 

I  sought  you  many  times 

When  you  had  strayed  from  me ; 

I  hid  the  blushes  on  my  cheek 

And  quenched  within  my  heart 

Vain  misforgivings ; 

1  crushed  the  spirit  of  revolt 

That  rose  in  wounded  pride 

At  your  indifference; 

'Tis  true  I  bent  my  head 

Before  your  knee, 

Suing  like  slave  to  master 

For  your  favor — 

Well,  what  of  it? 

These  things  I  did 

Because  I  loved  you — 

Drive  in  the  nails 

My  lover; 

One  for  each  gift  of  love, 

Take  up  the  Spear  of  Scorn 

And  pierce  my  heart; 

Quench  my  mad  thirst  for  love 

With  taunts  and  jibes ; 

Crown  me  with  a  Wreath  of  Shame 

And  with  the  blood  that  flows 

From  my  pierced  brow, 

Write  upon  my  cross. 


75 


i 


76 


!   I 


V 


Songs  of  Earth 


"A  Fallen  Woman"; 

Wash  your  hands 

In  a  Bowl  of  Sanctity; 

Strip  off  the  Garb  of  Self-Reproach, 

Hang  your  Repentance 

Upon  the  Ruling  Laws  of  Custom— 

Triumphant  and  free  I  ride, 

I  cast  aside  my  Bondage; 

I  leave  upon  the  Cross 

A  semblance  of  myself, 

But  I — I  arise, 

Vou  have  not  touched  Me; 

I  lift  my  eyes  to  heaven 

Confident  and  happy; 

For  He,  That  Giveth  all  things  lavishly. 

That  Loveth  His  Children 

With  an  Everlasting  Love, 

He  Is  Not  Understood— 

Givers  are  all  crucified ; 

Drive  in  the  nails  my  lover. 


THE  FINGER  TIPS  OF  NIGHT 

The  Finger-Tips  of  Night 
Gently  closed  the  Lids  of  Day ; 
The  Lake  bedecked  herself 
In  ribbons  of  pink  and  gold. 
To  greet  the  Setting  Sun ; 
Her  bosom  rose  and  fell 
With  its  suppressed  emotion, 
As  the  ardor  of  his  glances 
Fell  upon  her  upturned  face; 
Behind  the  tree-tops 
He  found  The  Lover's  Path, 
Leading  to  bliss; 
Close,  close  he  drew. 


Songs  of  EUirth 

And  when  they  met  upon  the  horizon 

He  pressed  his  warm  lips  to  hers; 

And  she  that  had  before  been  icy 

Melted  away  in  that  close  embrace; 

For  one  brief  moment 

Their  union  was  complete. 

Then  his  arms  relaxed  their  hold, 

His  sunny  form  faded  from  view — 

Cold  became  her  heart. 

Paler  and  paler  she  grew. 

She  drew  her  limbs 

Up  under  her  arms, 

Veiling  herself  in  her  long,  wavy  tresses 

And  slept; 

Waiting  for  the  Morrow 

With  its  Awakening  Kiss. 


77 


FAREWELL  DEAR  LOVER 

Farewell  dear  lover; 

We  two  meet  to  say,  farewell; 

You  threw  the  Pebble  into  our  Golden  Cup — 

A  little  while  we  lingered  side  by  side, 

0  such  a  little  Time  was  stolen 

Out  of  the  Endless  Time  of  Eternity; 
A  handclasp,  a  meeting  of  lips. 
One  close  embrace — 
All,  all  for  what? 

1  felt  you  knew  me  not. 

Farewell  dear  lover, 

It  may  be  'ere  you  stand 

Before  the  Threshold  of  Another  World, 

You  will  think  of  me ; 

And  sacrifice  The  Beast  of  Selfishness 

Before  the  Sacred  Flame  of  Love. 


78 


Songs  of  Earth 


MY  NOBLE  GENEROUS  LOVER 

Well  my  noble,  generous,  lover, 

Once  again  you  come  to  seek  my  favors— 

Days  of  anguish, 

Nights  of  silent  watching, 

With  heart-aches,  self-reproach  and  remorse 

My  boon  companions; 

For  you  days  of  merriment, 

Bouts  and  mad  carousals. 

Nights  of  idle  jesting. 

Laughter  and  wine 

My  fastidious  lover. 
My  epicurean  sensualist; 

So  easily  satisfied  with  petty  things  and  thoughts, 
bo  hard  to  please  in  matters  of  the  flesh— 
I  ou  come  to  me, 
I  am  good  to  look  upon ; 
And  what  is  more, 
I  love  you  with  a  love 
That  whips  within  your  selfish  heart 
A  flickering  beat  of  love- 
How  prou  stare  at  me : 
The  light  within  my  ty^ 
Is  dim  and  grey; 
My  lips  I  wreathe  into  a  smile. 
But  not  the  Smile  of  Welcome; 
The  proud  sardonic  smile 
Of  one  that  found  through  death  much  life; 
I  could  laugh  outright 
At  your  bravado, 

The  Master-Brute  that  comes  to  take 
That  which  he  thinks  his  own 
To  hold  or  cast  away ; 
Stand  back  my  noble  lover, 
Too  much  pain  has  deadened  me 
To  even  thrills  of  joy ; 


itii; 


Songs  of  Earth 

You  shall  not  kiss  my  lips, 

You  shall  not  clasp  my  hand 

Nor  fold  me  close  within  your  arms; 

I  see  you  stripped  of  all 

Your  showy  coverings, 

And  'though  you  stand  a  giant  among  Small  Men 

Among  the  gods,  ' 

Those  that  commune  with  me, 

Those  that  love  me  much, 

You  stand  a  gnat,  a  mote,  a  dwarf 

Mishapen  and  Unkempt, 

Pitiful  in  your  Smallness. 


79 


THE  MIRACLE  OF  CREATION 

For  cne  brief  moment  we  will  forget  your  drawn  face  O 
Misery :  ' 

We  will  sieze  you  by  your  rags, 

Thrusting  you  back  into  Pandora's  Casket 

Let  us  glorify  the  Creator  of  The  Universe, 

Let  us  sing  a  song  of  Joy,  of  Love, 

Let  us  praise  the  warmth  of  the  sun,  which  sends  the  sap 
dancing  merrily  through  the  trunks  of  trees,  into  the 
branches,  into  the  leaves,  into  the  tiny  buds, 

Opening  their  silent  lips  into  The  Glad  Song  of  Flowering 

Let  us  praise  the  beneficent  coolness  of  the  moon, 

Under  her  benign  rays,  earth's  troubled  spirit  is  quieted 

Let  us  point  out  to  Man,  the  stars, 

The  Pregnant  v/oman. 

The  New-Bom  Child, 

The  Wonderment  of  Birth,  Growth  and  Death 

O  let  us  sing  of  the  Miracle  of  Creation, 

Placing  before  Man,  The  Eternal  Mould, 

Into  which  he  shall  pour  the  Things  of  Life  • 

Teaching  him  to  fashion  after  The  Handiwork  of  The  Lord 


'\     it 


80 


Songs  of  Earth 


LET  EACH  MAN  GIVE  OF  THAT  WHICH  HE  HAS  TO 

GIVE 

I  am  weary; 

So  many  are  hungry, 

For  warmth, 

For  hope, 

Peace, 

Bread, 

Love. 

So  many  are  starving  for  the  little  and  the  big  things  of  life ; 

I  weep  because  my  hands  are  tied,  I  cannot  help  them  j 

Before  me  lies  a  wealth  of  food-stuff, 

Could  I  but  break  the  bonds  which  hold  me  back. 

Reach  into  the  Treasure-House  and  give: 

T  raise  my  fettered  hands  to  my  face, 

Endeavoring  to  hide  the  Tell-Tale  Tears  of  Sorrow ; 

0  how  salty  are  the  drops  which  fall  upon  the  earth : 
Once  again  I  gaze  upon  my  hands. 

They  are  free:  free:  free: 
How  blind  was  I: 

With  the  Power  of  Love,  The  Tools  within  my  own  Work- 
house, 

1  have  raised  a  Pillar  of  Salt 

I'hat  all  may  come  and  whet  their  appetites ; 

Grieve  not  over  the  heaped  up  wealth  of  another  lying 

unused. 
Let  each  man  give  of  that  which  he  has  to  give. 

AND  GOD  SO  LOVED  THE  WORLD 

Before  the  Beginning  was  God ; 

Then  came  Creation, 

And  God  so  loved  the  world 

That  He  Caused  His  Light 

To  descend  upon  it ; 

Man  beholding  this  Wondrous  Beacon  of  Love, 

Called  '^he  Radiant  Light, 

"MOTHER." 


Songs  of  Earth 

THE  LANGUAGE  OF  THE  GODS 

The  wind  rubs  his  face 

Against  my  cheek, 

How  it  thrills  me : 

I  stand  in  the  Midst  of  Night 

Waiting  for  another  caress, 

Again  that  velvety  touch — 

This  time  it  maddens  me; 

0  wind,  wind,  wind. 
Why  are  you  so  gentle? 

1  am  a  rough  creature; 
Blow,  blow,  blow 

Loosen  my  hair  from  its  fastenings 
Open  my  robe  at  the  throat. 
Rip  my  shoes  from  my  feet, 
And  wrap  me  in  your  arms — 

0  how  wondrous  sweet 

Is  this  touching  of  fire  to  fire : 

Carry  me  away. 

Away  to  the  highest  peak  of  a  mountain ; 

There  with  arms  upraised, 

My  body  draped  in  the  swirling  of  clouds 

1  will  sing  my  Song  of  Love 
Into  the  Ear  of  Thousands, 
Through  the  Centre  of  the  Sun, 
Into  the  farthest  heaven — 

And  now  you  virtuous  people  of  earth. 

Leave  off  your  scowling, 

If  you  understood 

The  Language  of  Gods, 

I  should  not  have  to  sing 

My  Song  of  Love 

Through  the  Passions  of  the  Flesh. 


81 


1^1 


m 


ii 


I*- 


:i    ■- 

1   |; 

■^t    :   k^ 

82  Songs  of  Earth 

STARS 

Stars,  stars  and  yet  more  stars, 

Twinkling,  blinking, 

Glittering,  sparkling, 

Flashing,  dashing, 

Sparks  of  flame; 

What  will  you  tell  me  ? 

I  peer  and  peer  and  peer 

Into  your  endless  maze  of  gleaming  eyes 

And  then  I  espy  the  Dipper; 

I  plunge  it  into  the  depths  of  the  sky 

Watching  the  stars  which  overflow ; 

Nearer  and  nearer  one  star  comes — 

Ah  surely  now  shall  I  know  what  it  is  made  of; 

The  Head  of  Death  smiles  from  its  centre 

And  Death  will  not  speak. 


I  LOVE  YOU 

I  love  you; 
In  that  confession 
I  reveal  all  that  I  am. 
All  that  I  hope  to  be. 

I  love  you : 

Words  hoary  with  age. 
Filled  with  Eternal  Youth, 
The  Alpha,  the  Omega  of  Life, 
The  Guiding  Star  of  Truth. 

I  love  you ; 

And  'though  I  delve  into  My  Self 

I  cannot  tell  you  more, 

The  Bird  of  my  spirit  sings, 

'"Tis  you  that  I  adore." 


Song!  of  Earth 


83 


I  AM  A  LOVER 


I  am  a  lover; 

Take  care  how  you  welcome  me, 

I  am  a  lover  that  will  be  free ; 

Endeavor  then  not  to  hold  me. 

Take  me  within  your  arms, 

I  will  abide  with  you 

For  a  little  time; 

Take  all  that  I  give  yon, 

I  give  it  freely,  willingly. 

But  ask  me  not  to  linger; 

The  world  id  full  of  men  and  women 

That  are  waiting  for  my  love ; 

And  I  am  mad  with  eagerness 

To  pour  into  them  all  that  I  have; 

To  apply  the  burning  torch 

That  the  fire  may  sweep  through  them, 

Watch  well  that  which  I  kindle. 

For  after  I  ignite  the  spark, 

I  leave  you  to  perish  in  the  blaze. 

Or  mastering  it  become 

A  Lighter  of  Eternal  Fires. 


IF  THOU  WOULDST  KNOW  THYSELF 

If  thou  wouldst  know  thy  Self, 

Wouldst  sound  the  depths 

Of  Sorrow,  Woe,  Dismay, 

And  mount  the  heights 

Of  Joy,  supreme,  sublime — 

If  thou  wouldst  know  this  earth. 

Yea,  other  Worlds  and  Planes, 

The  Universe  complete. 

Love  is  the  magic  wand 

From  which  these  blessings  spring. 


MiaiocorY  nsowTiON  tbt  chait 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


1.0 


■  45 

■  2^ 

|M 

■^H 

lifi 

iSi 

1^ 

tii, 

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IB 

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suit 

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2.0 


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/APPLIED  IIVHGE    Inc 

16S3  East  Main  SIrMt 

Rochnltr,  N*»  York        U609      USA 

(716)  482  -OMO-Phont 

(718)  2U-5989  -  Foi 


84 


Songs  of  Earth 


i 


M'^ 


If 


THE  MAIDEN  AND  HER  MANY  SUITORS 
The  woman  waited, 
Soon  the  suitors  came  for  her  fair  hand 
First  whirled  into  view  the  Dance. 
Wilt  wed  thyself  to  me?" 
"1  am  the  Rhythm  of  Time, 
I  join  the  Wind  in  all  his  moods  and  passions. 
XSlow  swaying  gently. 
Now  in  a  cyclone  of  fury, 
Come  be  my  Queen  of  Motion. 

p  Dreamy  One,  leap  over  the  Bars  of  Music 

Into  the  Arms  of  Harmony; 

The  mountains  will  vibrate 

As  I  send  my  mighty  tones  to  thee. 

In  a  Never-Ending  Melody. 

Come  thou  of  plastic  mien, 

I  place  within  thy  hands 

The  Masks  of  Comedy  and  Tragedy: 

Play  the  part  of  Maid,  Courtesan, 

Wife  and  Mother, 

The  gamut  for  the  sex  called  Woman. 

0  nature  child; 

1  have  brought  for  thee 

A  palette  wrought  of  ivory. 
With  colors  borrowed  from  the  rainbow; 
And  from  the  Treasure-House  the  brush 
With  which  the  fairies  tint  their  wings. 

Marble  heart. 

Here  is  clay. 

Fashion  out  of  this 

A  race  of  gods  and  goddesses; 

What  need  hast  thou 

Of  Nature's  Palpitating  Forms? 


Songs  of  Earth 


85 


O  thou  of  raven  hair 

And  milk-white  throat, 

Take  quill  in  hand 

Urge  men  on  to  battle  for  the  Right; 

Each  Thought  will  be  a  Sword 

To  slay  the  False. 

Come  thou  of  liquid  speech 
And  Holy  Praise; 
Let  us  go  forth 
To  teach  the  Word, 
Losing  the  life  on  earth 
To  find  the  life  Eternal. 

The  maiden  stood  motionless ; 

"Choose"  the  suitors  cry, 

"Are  we  not  good  to  look  upon  ? 

See  we  come  with  ladened  coffers." 

"O  Come  Love  Come," 

They  hear  her  sigh, 

"The  World  is  barren  without  thee." 

LOVE  IS  THE  CAUSE  OF  BEING 

If  thou  wouldst  question  God 

On  Cause  of  Birth, 

Why  all  the  travail, 

Woe  and  pain? 

The  ceaseless  striving  after  gain  ? 

The  joys  that  vanish  with  the  morning-dew- 

If  thou  wouldst  question  God 

On  Cause  of  Change, 

That  which  is  robed 

In  sombre  shades  of  black  and  gray. 

That  which  is  called  Death, 

Within  thyself  a  voice  will  answer  thee, 

"Love  is  the  Cause  of  All, 

Love  is  the  Cause  of  Being." 


fi 


I' 


I' 


i.i 


86 


\ 


\h 


Songs  of  Earth 


LOVE  CAME  INTO  MY  GARDEN 

Love  came  into  my  garden; 

And  among  my  roses 

Sought  to  build  a  nest; 

Hither  and  thither  he  flew. 

Not  knowing  where  to  build  his  nest 

Till  he  espied  my  open  window. 

Love  came  to  my  window-sill 

And  perched  thereon, 

He  cocked  his  little  head 

To  right  and  left. 

Looking  at  me  so  mournfully. 

"Come  little  Blue-Bird,"  said  I, 

"I  will  counsel  thee," 

"Go  find  a  mate. 

One  ^  >nnot  build  alone, 

And  it  cne  could. 

How  lonely  the  nest  would  be 

That  housed  but  one  little  Blue-Bird." 


.    r    lit. 
I'       *i 


if 

if 


MY  BABY 

More  beautiful  than  Raphael's  masterpiece 

Is  my  baby's  head. 

With  its  covering  of  down-like  hair. 

Sweeter  than  Melissa's  honeyed  stores 
Is  my  baby's  hand 
Wandering  over  my  lips. 

Rapture  beyond  the  soul's  wild  dreams 
When  my  baby's  little  gums 
Bite  gently  at  my  breast. 

Close,  close  to  God  am  I 

When  I  see  the  blue- veined  lids 

Drooping  over  my  baby's  eyes. 


Songs  of  Earth 

KEEP  FOR  ME  YOUR  KISSES 

I  never  loved  before ; 

I  cared  not  who  sipped 

The  honey  from  his  lips. 

I  watch  you  in  the  throng, 

I  note  each  glance  that  you  bestow, 

I  catch  the  softening  of  your  voice. 

And  in  your  eyes  each  changing  flash. 

A  silent  rage  wells  up  within, 
I  wonder  will  you  press  her  lips 
When  you  steal  from  the  dancing  throng, 
To  where  the  palms  like  nodding  sentinels 
Fail  to  keep  watch? 


87 


I  never  loved  before; 

Now  does  my  heart  beat 

One  mad  tune, 

My  throat  grows  tight. 

My  hands  clench  at  the  thought  of  another 

Reclining  against  your  shoulder. 


It  was  not  ever  thus  with  me. 

For  he  that  I  called  my  lord, 

Bent  his  head  o'er  many  a  fair  lady's  hand 

And  I — I  smilingly  looked  on, 

I  cared  not. 

But  you,  love,  you, 

I  want  you  for  my  very  own, — 

Seek  your  light  within  my  eyes. 

Find  my  lips  the  sweetest, 

I'll  share  your  heart, 

Your  love  with  Mankind, 

But  keep  for  me  your  kisses. 


t 


i 


i 


!■ 


''  ,i 


II' 


88 


Songs  of  Earth 


FAIREST  OF  ALL  THE  SEX  WERE  MOTHERS 

I  had  a  dream, 

A  dream  of  women ; 

Fairest  of  all  the  sex  were  mothers. 

0  thou  of  stolid  form, 
Phlegmatic  mien, 

With  infant  at  thy  breast; 

1  hy  Slavonic  fires  are  kindled 
Lightmg  thy  dull  face 

With  the  softened  shades  of  Motherhood. 

With  trailing  robe 

And  white-gloved  hands 

My  lady  steals  from  the  Arms  of  Revelry 

Into  the  nursery;  ^ 

W  JJif'r  ^  ^-^^  "P°"  ^^^  rounded  cheek 
Which  lies  like  a  crumpled  rose-leaf 
Against  the  snowy  pillow  • 
Beneath  her  jewelled  bosoms 
1  he  mother-love  is  surging  • 
And  'though  the  world  kneel 
Calling  her  most  fair  to  look  upon, 
ri^^'ul  ^h^  ^'■eam-form  of  her  child 
iftat  beholds  her  radiantly  beautiful. 

Out  into  the  night 

A  maiden  creeps; 

Beneath  her  shawl  is  a  bundle 

Clasped  tightly  to  her  breast; 

Out  into  the  night 

This  maiden  steals 

With  her  dead  child; 

And  as  she  leaves  it 

In  a  dark  and  gloomy  corner 

Of  an  alley, 

She  prays  that  she  might  be  sleeping  there  with  it. 


I 


Songs  of  Earth 

The  honeymoon  is  scarcely  over; 

And  against  a  girlish  form  is  pressed 

A  wee  child, 

With  wondering  eyes 

Which  will  not  close — 

The  husband-lover  kneels  • 

His  trembling  arm  around  them  both; 

Whispering  Love's  Rapture  Song, 

'•Our  baby,  little  mother." 

O  peasant  wife : 

O  woman  of  fashion: 

Loved  bride 

And  O  you  unwed  one : 

The  Crown  of  Motherhood  adorns  you  equally; 

The  pear'.y  streams  well  up 

To  kiss  the  crimson  crests 

Of  your  awakened  bosoms ; 

Madonnas, 

Virgin-mothers  all  of  you; 

For  in  the  giving  birth 

You  have  become  anointed. 


H9 


A  FIRE-CHILD  OF  LOVE 

Dear  Love, 

I  send  you  a  little  child. 

That  sprang  full-grown 

From  our  last  embrace; 

Look  upon  him. 

Does  he  not  show  good  promise? 

The  Spirit  of  the  Creator, 

The  strong  frame  of  his  father, 

The  tender  soul  of  his  mother; 

Our  blessed  Fire-Child  of  Love. 


Is 


90 


Songs  of  Earth 


I 


II- 


!        .» 


I'm 


Ml 


ALONE  AM  I 

Alone  am  I; 

Of  all  the  Host  of  Beings 

With  which  this  world  abounds 

Is  there  not  one  that  I  can  call  my  own? 

Where  has  Love  gone? 

Why  has  his  voice  grown  mute? 

Hush:  hush: 

I  hear  your  voices  call. 

In  one  long,  endless  babble. 

"I'll  give  you  Fame, 
I'll  give  you  gold, 
I'll  make  a  place  for  you 
Beside  a  wife  grown  old." 

Sealed  be  your  lips, 
Your  oflFers  turn  me  cold. 

Alone  am  I: 

0  God  how  much  alone: 

DESPAIR 

Come  love, 

1  will  take  hands  with  you; 
You  airy,  merry  wise  little  god : 
We  two  shall  mock  at  Laws, 
Sects,  Creeds,  Conventions— 
Hold  tight  my  little  god, 

J  he  hosts  that  we  have  mocked 
Now  join  their  forces  to  confront  us- 
What  brmg  they  in  their  midst? 
Duty. 


SongB  of  Earth 


91 


Wailing  and  gnashing  of  teeth, 

Wringing  of  hands, 

Supplications  and  entreaties. 

Stand  firm  my  little  God  of  Love 

They  kneel  before  me ; 

My  senses  reel. 

My  trembling  fingers  loose  their  hold,- 

My  little  God  of  Love  has  taken  wing. 

Beside  the  form  of  Duty  I  lie, 
Wrapped  in  a  cold,  gray  robe. 

My  tears  where  have  they  fled? 
Silent,  motionless  am  I. 

In  festive  robes  my  supplicators 

Once  more  garb  themselves; 

Duty  holds  me  fast; 

All,  all  depart. 

Save  Despair, 

Who  sitting  at  my  head 

Forever  keeps  watch. 

MY  BLESSED  MOTHER 

Lives  there  a  soul 

With  a  heart  so  dead 

That  never  to  itself  has  said, 

"This  is  my  own. 

My  Blessed  Mother?" 


I 


MY  MOTHER'S  TENDER  EYES 

My  mother's  tender  eyes 
Contain  all  that  is  divine, 
Love,  pity,  forgiveness, 
Courage,  faith,  mercy 
And  justice. 


•''■: 


n 


r 


i: 


92 


Songs  of  Earth 


WITHIN  ME  ALL  WORLDS 

^yith^n  me  all  worlds; 

Yet  come  I  an  Infant 

To  the  Threshold  of  this  world; 

And  I  say  to  my  body, 

"1  am  thy  master, 

Obey  my  commands." 

My  Passions  bend  their  knee  before  me, 

I  accept  of  their  oifering, 

Or  I  reject  them, 

I  am  Absolute  Monarch  of  my  domain ; 

Yet  again  come  I  as  an  Infant, 

Conqueror  of  the  World  of  Flesh 

To  where  the  beautiful  land  of  another  world 

Stretches  before  me; 

The  World  of  Mind; 

Kingless  is  this  Realm, 

For  no  wise  king  remains 

To  sit  upon  the  Throne 

He  passes  on  to  the  Hierarchies ; 

The  Mind- World  is  like  a  walled  city 

The  towers  point  their  turrets  to  the  sky  • 

Here  live  not  creatures  of  flesh  and  blood 

But  Mental  Beings, 

Will-O'-the-Wisps ; 

One  pursues  these  over  mountain  heights 

Across  the  Borderland  of  Clouds,  ' 

Before  they  bend  and  give  obeisance ; 

When  these  call  you,  "Master," 

They  conduct  you  to  The  Throne  of  Reason- 

He  that  stays  not  before  this  throne  content 

Tmn  th^H^^"'''^,^  i^."^^".^  ^'■°"'  ^^^  «""'  »"oo"  and  stars. 
Into  the  Heavenly  Kmgdom, 

Where  sits  the  King  of  Kings ; 

To  Him  you  give  your  trophies, 

Vv^eapons  wrought  of  gold,  silver 


Song!  of  Earth 

And  He  will  say  unto  you, 

"Return  and  leave  in  all  your  Conquered  Worlds 

The  Wealth  which  you  have  gathered." 

He  that  obeys  wins  a  place  among  the  Masters  of  Love, 

The  Gates  of  Wisdom  open  of  their  own  volition; 

Man  cannot  storm  the  heavens, 

The  Gates  open  before  the  mighty  shouts 

Of  The  Lovers  of  The  Lord. 


93 


COME  LET  YOU  AND  ME  LOVE 

Come  let  you  and  me  love ; 

What  care  we  to  name  the  chemicals 

Which  cause  the  flame; 

We  will  take  hands, 

Following  the  little  god 

Down  the  path  well-worn 

By  many  feet; 

Fire  bums  and  fire  warms. 

It  has  a  two-fold  quality; 

I  stand  in  the  midst  of  the  blaze 

Drawing  you  into  the  flame ; 

The  spirit  cannot  be  destroyed. 

What  does  it  matter 

If  to  set  it  free, 

We  make  a  bon-fire  of  the  wrappings? 

Sweet  are  the  uses  of  all  things 

Which  have  their  time,  place  and  purpose; 

Let  us  depart  from  earth 

Leaving  her  well-nourished ; 

In  fairyland  no  earthly  sprites  shall  come  to  us  and  say, 

"You  starved  me, 

Come  back  and  give  me  bread." 


i  ; 


i;   ■ 


i 


f  i\ 


i 


i^l 


i ...  ■■  e 


94 


Songs  of  Earth 


••I  AND  MY  FATHER  ARE  ONE" 

Some  say  God  is  Unreal; 

And  when  they  commence  to  ponder 

They  are  lost  amidst  a  maze  of  contradictions. 

Some  say  that  Life  is  a  dream; 

And  when  they  study  its  different  phases 

They  are  lost  in  a  glamour  of  Illusions. 

These  travel  the  Path  of  Bewilderment, 

For  God  Is  Real, 

Life  is  real, 

There  is  no  Nothing. 

Heaven  and  earth  are  interwoven, 

He  that  separates  them 

Loses  the  Consciousness  of  Existence. 

There  is  no  path  between  God  and  Man, 

Save  in  the  Imagination  of  His  Children, 

The  Wise  Men  have  ever  said, 

"I  and  My  Father  Are  One." 

WHEN  I  AM  NEAR  TO  THEE 

W^rap  me  in  your  arms. 

Your  arms  are  mine 

And  mine  are  thine. 

Then  wrap  me  in  your  arms 

That  I  may  nave  my  arms,  dear  heart. 

0  let  me  feel  your  lips. 
Your  lips  are  mine 
And  mine  are  thine, 
Then  let  me  f<  el  your  lips 

That  I  may  have  my  lips,  dear  heart. 
How  came  this  strange  confusion? 
This  sweet  exchange  of  arms  and  lips? 

1  do  no*-  know 

If  I  am  thee  or  me, 
I  only  know  I  am 
When  I  am  near  to  thee. 


Songs  of  Earth 


95 


TO-NIGHT  I  AM  A  MOTHER 

To-night  I  am  a  mother, 

My  face  has  softened, 

From  my  eyes  beam  a  tender  light; 

The  corners  of  my  mouth  are  full  of  dimples 

Dipping  into  each  other, 

Under  the  pressure  of  smiles; 

To-night  all  that  is  good  must  overflow; 

My  breasts  are  full  and  firm, 

I  have  placed  a  shield  over  them, 

Like  pearls  the  drops  of  sweet  milk 

Form  on  the  tip  of  the  nipples ; 

The  blood  of  my  heart. 

The  marrow  of  my  bones 

Mixed  by  a  Master  Alchemist 

Into  the  Elixir  of  Life. 

You  are  my  child, 

They  have  placed  upon  your  Infant  Shoulders 

The  cares  and  sorrows  of  Humanity; 

All  day  you  wandered  over  the  burning  sands, 

So  many  throats  were  parched: 

Come  I  will  give  you  to  drink 

Until  your  mouth  lies  motionless  against  my  breast. 

Your  heavy  eyelids  close  in  sleep, 

I  shall  be  O  so  careful 

Not  to  disturb  your  dreams. 

As  I  lie  by  your  side ; 

Silently  I  shall  laugh  for  happiness 

As  I  feel  the  relaxation  of  your  body : 

With  the  dawn  you  will  awaken 

Well-nourished,  well-rested 

To  do  the  work 

Your  eager  spirit  seeks  and  welcomes ; 

I  shall  gaze  with  eyes  of  love 

Into  the  eyes  of  my  son 

Now  grown  to  Manhood ; 

And  I  shall  be  glad :  glad :  glad : 

That  on  my  breasts  he  grew  to  a  gigantic  stature. 


I 


'i 

■4' 


96 


Songs  of  Earth 


!.;■ 


i: 


I 


i 
I 

r 


DEAR  GOD  GIVE  ME  LOVE 

They  gave  her  bread, 

They  gave  her  drink, 

Clothes  to  wear, 

A  few  pennies  to  spend 

As  she  deemed  best ; 

They  gave  her  shelter, 

They  gave  her  warmth, 

Good,  pure  air, 

But  still  they  heard  her  cry, 

"God:  I  am  starving." 

They  gave  her  honor. 

They  gave  her  power. 

Along  with  power 

That  which  men  call  riches, 

Fineries  and  fiumperies. 

Necklaces — 

Yea  even  a  coronet; 

But  still  from  her  lips 

Came  the  same  wild  cry, 

"God :  I  am  starving." 

The  Prudent  shook  their  heads 
And  one  by  one  withdrew,  withdrew; 
Then  she  with  all  the  strength 
That  she  could  muster, 
Sent  forth  once  more 
Her  agonizing  cry, 
"Dear  God,  give  me  love. 
Or  else  I  die." 


Songs  of  Earth 

I  PRAYED  FOR  LOVE 

I  prayed  for  Love, 

Silently  so  none  could  hear  my  prayer; 

I  whispered  not  even  to  God 

Of  my  mad  longing; 

But  He  That  Knows  all  thought 

Before  its  birth, 

Answered  the  unspoken  prayer 

Giving  me  what  my  heart  demanded. 

I  prayed  for  love; 

A  wild  force  welled  up  within  me, 

It  broke  my  heart; 

It  tore  through  the  Locks  of  Reason, 

It  flung  my  Naked  Soul 

Upon  its  seething  waters, 

Until  I  prayed  aloud  to  God 

To  take  back  that  which  was  born  of  Thought. 

Slowly  Desire  died; 
A  deadly  calm  enfolded  me, 
I  lived  like  one  that  knows  not 
Whether  he  is  dead  or  dreaming. 

Once  more  I  prayed  for  Love, 

Love  with  all  its  pain. 

With  all  its  passions. 

Love,  love,  love, 

The  Key  which  unlocks  the  Gates  of  Life, 

The  Gates  of  Death, 

Of  Heaven,  of  Hell, 

The  Meaning  of  Existence. 


97 


I 


98 


Songs  of  Earth 


,  „i.  fi. 


if 


ICH  LIEBE  DICH 

"Ich  Liebe  Dich," 

Like  the  rippling  song  of  a  wind-kissed  stream, 

Like  the  mellow  notes  poured  from  the  golden  throat  of  a 
nightingale 

Or  silvery  bells  t  nkling  across  a  star-clad  sky 

These  three  words  came, 
"Ich  Liebe  Dich." 

Words:   did  I  call  them? 

Nay,  harmonies,  melodies,  minor  chords 

To  be  played  upon  a  lyre  of  heart-strings; 

Sweet-alluring  sounds, 

Numbing  all  the  senses  into  a  silent  ecstasy 

For  lo :  'tis  then  the  soul  comes  forth 

To  kiss  the  lips  of  him,  who  said, 
"Ich  Liebe  Dich." 


SHMA'  ISRAEL 

"Shma'  Israel," 

There  is  but  One  God: 

In  each  form  I  see  An  Expression  of  His  Wisdom, 

In  each  kind  act  an  out-pouring  of  His  Love  and  Compassion, 

At  the  Birth  of  Day  and  Night, 

The  Rising  and  Setting  of  the  sun, 

The  appearance  of  the  moon  and  stars. 

The  year  with  its  four  great  moods 

Each  entirely  different. 

Yet  each  dependent  on  the  other, 

The  Immutable  Law  governing  through  all  conditions. 

Civilizations,  Centuries,  Cycles; 

"Shma'  Israel," 

We  cannot  grasp  with  a  Finite  Mind 

His  Infinitude,  His  Glory. 


mom 


Songs  of  Earth 


99 


THE  CHAMPION  OF  GOD 

I  have  taken  it  upon  myself 

To  become  The  Champion  of  God; 

I  stand  with  the  Flaming  Sword  of  Truth 

In  my  hand ; 

Line  up  for  battle 

All  that  would  uproot 

That  which  has  taken  millions  of  years 

To  prepare  for  growth ; 

That  which  was  fertilized  by  the  Blood  of  The  Sons  of  God, 

Would  you  in  your  madness 

Nip  The  Bud 

Before  it  brought  forth  The  Golden  Fruit? 

I  call  upon  The  Name  of  The  Holy  One, 

You  shall  not  approach 

The  Tree  of  Life 

To  do  it  harm. 


I  AM  IN  ALL  THINGS 

The  Lord  Said, 

"Write  of  all  things" 

And  I  obeyed; 

But  ever  His  Holy  Name 

Grew  out  of  my  pen, 

And  I  said 

Unto  My  Self 

"The  Lord  has  bidden  thee 

To  write  of  all  things 

But  thou  dost  ever  write 

The  Name  of  God": 

And  The  Lord  heard  me, 

And  answered  me  thus, 

"Thou  canst  not  write  of  anything 

Without  The  Lord, 


;,      ,     ^.. 


100 


Songs  of  Earth 


< ' 


i!  i 


h 


THE  MOTHER-PEARL 

Search  through  the  North, 

And  then  go  South, 

Through  the  Ancient  East 

And  the  Modern  West, 

Count  your  Pearls  of  Friendship, 

String  them  on  the  Chain  of  Life, 

Conceal  your  treasure 

In  a  receptacle  of  your  heart, 

The  years  will  come 

And  the  years  will  go, 

Open  your  heart  once  more. 

And  search  therein, 

Gone  are  some  pearls, 

Some  broken  are, 

.me  black 

-^-  d  some  are  shrivelled. 

But  rosy-pink 

Like  a  new-born  babe. 

Is  the  pearl  that  you  have  named 

The  Mother-Pearl. 


THE  VIRGIN'S  LAMP 

0  my  lover: 

How  shall  you  and  ^  *:alk  to  each  other? 

Words  are  so  wet 

And  love  is  so  strong; 

Let  us  use  the  language  of  the  heart ; 

1  place  my  lips  against  one  of  the  little  doors  whispering, 
"Let  me  in,  let  me  in," 

Presently  your  heart  responds 
And  opens  to  receive  my  kisses; 
1  pour  into  it  drops  of  oil 
From  the  Virgin's  Lamp. 


# 


Songs  of  Earth 

THE  CUP  OF  CIVILIZATION 

War!  War!  War  I 

Now  shall  we  taste  hot  blood 

Poured  into  the  Self-deluded  Cup  of  Civilization. 

War!  War!  War! 

For  men  of  able  bodies 

And  clear  minds 

Play  at  a  game 

Where  life  is  made  the  stakes. 

War,  which  breaks  the  Ten  Commandments; 

War,  which  leaves  the  nation  a  legacy 

Of  maimed  men,  beggars,  widows,  orphans; 

War,  the  Arch-Disorganizer  of  the  home; 

War,  which  sweeps  through  the  land 

Like  a  Destroying  Angel 

Slaying  all  the  First-bom; 

War,  which  hurls  us  back 

To  the  savagery  of  barbarism 

And  proves  conclusively 

That  Reason  is  still  an  Infant 

Upon  whose  guidance 

We  place  no  dependence. 

In  the  Cave-age, 
When  man  grieved  man, 
They  came  to  blows 
And  he,  who  obtained 
The  first  throat-clutch. 
Choked  ouc  the  life 
Of  the  other. 


101 


To  talk  their  grievance  over. 

To  reason  on  a  give  and  take  basis 

Was  beyond  their  knowledge; 


102 


Songs  of  Earth 


i 


'i 


1:. 


The  mind  had  not  evolved 

To  that  degree. 

To-day  we  split  the  finest  hairs 

On  Birth,  Growth  and  Death. 

'Till  each  of  us  salaams  and  murmurs, 

"My  brother,  you  are  right; 

Friends  let  us  be, 

Although  we  move  in  opposites." 

All  systems  of  philosophy 

Give  rise  to  an  opposing  thought — 

Is  not  a  question  which  involves 

The  life  of  a  nation 

One  which  has  to  do  with  reason's  power  for  decision/ 

bhall  we  forget  our  mental  growth 

And  look  upon  an  opposite  thought 

A  J  an  enemy? 

Shall  we  give  no  opportunity  for  defense, 

But,  like  in  Stony  Ages, 

Secretly  attack 

And  hurl  to  death? 

War  is  the  Hound  of  Woe 

Whose  incessant  howling 

Turns  men  deaf  or  mad; 

Whose  open  jaws 

And  blood-stained  \hs 

Must  forever  be  filled 

With  bleeding  victims. 

War  sits  like  Cerberus 

At  the  Gates  of  Hell 

Welcoming  the  passing  throng. 

Heed  not  this  wily  deceiver 

Who  opens  wide  the  portals 

To  the  music  of  the  fife  and  drum; 

Jjs  but  to  drown  out  the  cries  of  ravaged  women, 

The  wails  of  infants  tugging  at  dead  breasts. 


Songs  of  Earth 

The  moaning  of  the  dying  left  alone  at  night 

Upon  the  Battlefield. 

The  blood-curdling  shrieks  of  disembodied  spirits 

Seeking  for  their  bodies. 

Not  knowing  yet  that  they  are  dead. 

Over  the  Waters  of  Night 

Charon  comes  in  his  boat; 

Llpon  the  prow 

Grins  the  Death-head 

And  picking  out  our  strongest  men 

From  whom  the  Soul  of  Good  Judgment 

Has  momentarily  departed. 

Leaving  them  living  yet  dead, 

He  steers  them  to  the  Scene  of  War 

Centered  in  the  Heart  of  Hell. 

Here  man  kills  man  without  reason, 

Even  without  Passion's  Excuse 

And  Pluto,  gathering  up  their  souls, 

Builds  for  himself 

A  greater  Kingdom  of  Darkness. 

Look!  look!  beyond,  beyond; 

The  heaped  up  bodies  of  the  dead 

Being  burnt 

To  kill  the  pestilence 

Of  stinking  flesh. 

Look!  look!  beyond,  beyond; 

The  trench  into  which  is  thrown 

A  huddled  mass 

With  staring  eyes, 

Swollen  lips, 

Shattered  arms — 

Arms  that  once  enfolded  us, 

Lips  that  yesterday  we  kissed; 

Husband,  child,  lover; 

Each  vein  of  our  beloved  one 


103 


ffll"!    '■ 


104 


Songs  of  Earth 


We  treasured ; 

And  strove  ever  to  guard 

With  jealous  care 

That  body  from  all  harm. 

War  makes  of  men 

Clods  of  earth 

And  uses  them 

To  stuff  the  gaping  wounds 

Which  cannons  tear  in  nature. 


Oh,  shall  there  never  be  an  end  of  war  I 

Shall  we,  created  in  the  Image  of  The  Lord, 

Forget  our  destiny 

And  tear  and  tear  and  tear 

The  precious  Fabric  of  Creation? 

Shall  Lucifer  indeed  laugh 

In  the  Face  of  God  and  say, 

"Thou  badest  me  to  instruct  the  angels 

To  descend  within  the  Form  of  Man 

And  I  disobeyed; 

Was  I  not  right? 

See  how  they  rend  each  other's  flesh — 

The  flesh  that  Thou  didst  build 

Out  of  Thine  Infinite  Love 

And  with  Thine  Infinite  Care. 

Wouldst  Thou  redeem  these  forms 

Made  murderous  by  Man, 

Place  them  amongst  Thy  Chosen  Ones 

Who  give  Thee  praise 

And  know  not  disobedience? 

Dear  Lord,  uplift  me  from  my  fallen  state. 

They  are  not  worthy  that  Lucifer, 

Who  was  one  of  Thy  Mightiest  Servants, 

Should  be  so  punished." 

And  the  Lord  said, 

"Be  still;  be  still; 

Banished  from  my  Glory 


Songs  of  Earth 


105 


Shalt  thou  remain,  Oh  Lucifer, 

Until  War  shall  cease 

And  all  forms  return 

I'hrough  Peace  and  Love 

Into  My  Bosom. 

Be  still ;  be  still ; 

I  gave  them  birth, 

I,  The  God  of  Gods. 

I  love  Man  more  than  all  Mine  Angels 

When  he  shows  righteousness; 

For  My  Heavenly  Children 

Have  not  known  temptation. 

I  have  said, 

•Not  one  shall  be  lost! 

For  they  who  are  Destroyers 

Shall  gather  up  the  Broken  Particles 

Of  Many  Worlds 

And  set  them  whole  before  Me.' " 

And  Lucifer  drew  his  cloak  over  his  face 

That  he  might  not  perish 

In  That  Great  Light 

And  turning  from  The  Throne  of  Compassion 

He  cried  "Oh,  Man!  Man!  Man! 

When  will  you  cease  to  add 

The  Fuel  of  War  to  my  Fires ; 

Oh  Peace!   Peace!   Peace! 

Even  I,  Lucifer, 

Am  weary  of  Hell." 

ALL  THAT  MAN  IS  1  AM 

I  wonder  if  I  have  sung  my  song 

As  it  was  taught  to  me? 

I  started  in  the  stars, 

Forsaking  their  silvery  company 

To  touch  hands  with  the  Hand  of  Man; 

I  have  followed  him 

Wherever  he  could  be  found. 


I 

'  t    J 


106 


Songs  of  Earth 


In  the  World  of  Reason, 

In  the  Realm  of  Art, 

In  the  shop, 

In  the  gutter, 

Across  the  prairies, 

Across  the  seas, 

I  have  followed  the  priests, 

The  true  and  the  false. 

The  Lovers  of  Earth, 

The  Lovers  of  God, 

I  have  stood  upon  the  Borderland  of  Fairyland, 

I  have  delved  into  Dead  Worlds 

Among  strange  Beings, 

Among  the  Ancients, 

I  have  followed  Man 

Through  all  his  moods, 

Through  all  his  passions. 

From  the  Womb  of  Woman, 

Back  to  the  Womb  of  Earth ; 

And  I  say  that  I  have  been  following  myself; 

For  all  Man  is, 

I  am; 

All  that  I  am, 

Man  is. 

Part  heaven. 

Part  earth; 

Therefore  I  praise  my  body 

For  all  that  in  it  is, 

I  praise  my  soul 

For  all  that  in  it  is, 

I  praise  God  for  both. 


Songs  of  Earth 


107 


THE  UNBELIEVERS 

To-day  I  have  been 

Among  The  Unbelievers, 

As  I  listened  to  their  lengthy  discussions, 

Their  evident  pleasure 

In  linking  themselves  only  with  the  earth, 

Their  seeming  gladness 

That  in  one  hundred  years 

They  would  be  but  dust, 

Nothing  more. 

Only  a  speck 

Which  might  lodge 

In  a  man's  right  eye 

Obstructing  his  vision, 

My  lips  were  silent; 

The  Weight  of  The  Name  of  The  Lord 

Pressed  heavily  upon  my  heart. 

Closing  the  Doors  of  Speech. 

0  Lord: 

1  could  not  speak  Thy  Name, 
They  were  so  far  from  Thee, 
They  could  not  hear  me; 
Within  me  I  felt 

Thy  Great  Love  arise, 

Until  it  formed 

A  Mountain  of  Compassion; 

I  lay  me  down 

At  the  foot, 

And  wept — 

Presently  I  heard  Thy  Voice 

Whispering  to  me, 

"Weep  and  shun  them  not. 

They  are  as  dear  to  Me 

As  thou  art, 

To-day  thou  Knowest  Me, 

To-morrow  they  too 

Shall  know  their  God." 


a?'- 


108 


Songi  of  Earth 


*■' 


H' 


■I.- '. 


'1 

■i 


TO  MY  MOTHER 

In  Polish  soil  she  grew 

A  wild  flower; 

Transplanted  to  the  soil  of  Canada 

Her  Roots  took  on 

A  New  Lease  of  Life. 

Higher,  higher  she  reached 

Under  the  Glory 

Of  the  Sun  of  Freedom, 

Until  she  became 

A  Wisdom-Flower. 

Her  mouth  is  lined  with  tenderness. 

Her  eyes  send  forth 

A  thousand  sparks 

Of  merry  twinkles, 

Igniting  her  ever-ready 

Tongue  of  Wit ; 

As  I  behold  her  daily  unselfishness. 

Her  great  maternal  spirit, 

Her  gentleness, 

I  know  that  God 

Is  very  close 

To  my  mother. 


Song!  of  Earth 


109 


JACOB 

A  stony  pillow 

Beneath  his  head — 

Flights  of  angels 

Came  to  hold  communion 

With  the  sleeper  Jacob; 

How  tranquil  the  repose 

Which  opened  up 

The  Gates  of  Self; 

And  caused  The  Silent  Jne 

To  stand  near  Heaven's  Threshold. 

Hallelujahs  split  the  air. 

And  choruses  of  angel-voices 

Filled  the  earth 

With  hymns  sublime,  eternal; 

Jacob  slept  on ; 

They  came  these  Shining  Ones 

To  gaze  upon  the  Sleeper— 

Amidst  a  burst  of  chimes, 

Melodic  and  majestic, 

They  ascended  a  spiral  path 

Taking  with  them 

The  Stony  Pillow, 

Upon  which  the  head 

Of  their  Beloved  Jacob  rested. 


"ii: 


I 


-       ,  i 


I 


<  f 


jjQ  Songs  of  Earth 

LORD  OF  THE  UNIVERSE 

A  flower  opens  up  its  sweet  curved  lips 

And  in  the  golden  depths 

I  see  The  Smile  of  God ;  .       ^      t. 

The  wind  playfully  and  with  caressing  touch 

Tosses  a  iScl/of  my  hair  about  in  abandonment, 

1  peer  into  The  Face  of  The  Wmd 

But  he  will  not  Unveil  for  me, 

Yet  he  whispers, 

"I  am  The  Breath  of  God   ; 

I  g-aze  into  the  sun,  ,  •    •  ^ 

He  answers  my  earnest  look  exclaiming, 

"I  am  the  Ever-Watchful  Eye 

Sealed  In  The  Forehead  of  God  ; 

I  plunge  into  a  Lake, 

"Surely  God  is  not  here" 

As  the  waves  dash  over  me 

I  hear  them  singing, 

"We  are  The  Tears  of  Joy 

Which  Fell  from  The  Eyes  of  God  ; 

I  see  a  man  staggering  towards  me, 

His  eyes  are  bleared. 

His  face  is  swollen. 

His  lips  are  thick  and  blue. 

His  body  sways  from  side  to  side 

Like  a  ship  that  is  adrift, 

"Ah  here,"  I  exclaim, 

"God  does  not  abide." 

I  greet  him  warmly. 

He  leans  against  my  body  for  support, 

And  I  know  by  the  contact 

That  immersed  in  this  Ocean  of  Desire 

Is  God. 

In  the  gladness  of  my  new-found  happiness 

I  sing 


Songs  of  Earth 

"God:    God:    God: 

Lord  of  The  Universe, 

Lord  in  The  Universe, 

I  send  Thee  Greetings  of  Love  and  Peace, 

Builder,  Preserver,  Destroyer, 

Possessor  of  all  and  in  All." 


Ill 


IF  I  LOVED  THEE 

If  I  loved  thee 

My  mother,  father,  brother,  friends 

Would  all  happy  be; 

If  I  loved  thee. 

If  I  loved  thee 

Thou  too  wouldst  joyful  be, 

Thy  heart  more  free ; 

If  I  loved  thee. 

Why  cannot  I  love  thee 

And  bring  about  this  sweet  content? 

I  do  not  know, 

Save  that  with  thee 

There  is  no  beat  that  strikes 

The  rhythmic  beat  of  love  within  my  heart. 

He  that  I  love 

Sows  discord  up  and  down  my  path, 

But  in  my  soul  he  plants  the  seeds 

Of  joy,  of  happiness  sublime ; 

In  Spite  of  Seven  Hells 

Through  which  I  pass, 

And  Stony  Barriers  hardened  by 

Thousands  of  years  of  careful  preservation, 

I  love  not  whom  I  should, 

But  him  whom  I  should  not. 

He  that  appeals  to  me. 


II 


fl-- 


I 


I' 


In 


1  : 


112 


Songs  of  Earth 


I  WILL  WANDER  AMONG  STRANGE  PEOPLE 

I  will  wander  among  strange  people, 

My  face  will  be  radiant  with  joy, 

For  I  will  carry  The  Love  of  God 

Within  my  heart; 

And  all  who  pass  me  by  will  exclaim, 

"Thou  hast  a  merry  face, 

Thou  art  a  partaker  of  great  bliss," 

And  I  will  reply, 

"Yea,  yea, 

1  am  a  partaker  of  great  bliss. 

The  bliss  of  The  Knowledge  of  The  Lord." 

And  they  will  question  me, 

"Where  is  thy  God 

For  we  too  would  know  Ilim, 

Would  taste  of  The  Unspeakable  Joy 

Which  makes  thine  eyes  transparent"? 

And  I  will  again  reply, 

"Look  within  thy  heart. 

If  it  pulsates  with  love 

Seated  therein  is  God, 

For  He  is  in  the  heavens. 

And  upon  the  earth. 

There  doth  He  Labor; 

But  in  His  Children's  Heart 

There  doth  He  Take  His  Rest." 


Songs  of  Earth 


113 


THE  SOLDIERS  OF  ALL  WORLDS 

Will  you  join  our  procession? 

Steady  now, 

Left  right,  left  right, 

Keep  in  time, 

Fall  in  line. 

We  want  no  laggards 

Or  wc  ik-kneed  men ; 

For  centuries  we  have  been  marching; 

And  for  centuries  we  will  march 

Carrying  our  banner  of  love. 

Of  comradeship. 

Into  the  Empires  of  the  Future; 

Tramp,  tramp,  tramp, 

'Though  we  have  not  many  in  our  ranks. 

You  can  hear  the  echo  of  our  footsteps 

Rolling  through  the  Universe, 

Like  the  Voice  of  Thunder; 

We  are  the  Soldiers  of  Fire  and  Water, 

The  heavens  split  at  our  birth 

And  from  our  mouths  dart  tongues  of  flame; 

We  laugh  a:  man-made  gates  and  fortresses. 

Pushing  our  way  through  them ; 

Nothing  can  stop  our  progress. 

We  intend  to  march  on 

Until  the  last  man  shall  have  joined  our  ranks ; 

"We  are  mad,"  you  say? 

Walk  beside  me, 

1  will  whisper  the  Name  of  the  Maker 

Of  our  Invincible  Armor ; 

God: 


114 


Songs  of  Earth 


?    j'l 


if 


You  do  not  believe  me? 

Of  course  not, 

If  you  believed  you  would  be  marching  with  us. 

Not  straggling  on  the  outskirts; 

Farewell  dear  brother, 

'Though  you  are  not  one  with  us, 

We  are  one  with  you; 

Left  right,  left  right,  left  right, 

We  are  the  Soldiers  of  all  Worlds, 

Forward  march. 

We  come  from  a  race  of  conquerors. 

THE  MOTHER-LOVE 

I  reach  out  my  hands 

Then  let  them  fall 

Listlessly  to  my  side; 

'Round  my  heart  a  pain  there  is 

Which  nothing  seems  to  comfort. 

Humanity  calls  at  early  dawn 

And  late  at  eve', 

I  arise  to  greet  the  Task 

They  place  before  me ; 

And  yet  the  pain  remains. 

It  will  not  cease. 

Love  comes, 

Lips  to  lips 

We  sip  the  wine 

Pressed  from  the  Ardor  of  Kisses; 

But  still  the  pain  is  mine. 

And  will  not  ease. 


Songs  of  Earth 

What  pain  is  this? 

O  Mary  thou  mother  of  a  Christ-Child 

Thou  knowest  full  well 

What  pain  is  mine. 

Upon  a  bed  of  straw  * 

Thy  babe  was  born, 

And  with  thy  mother-love 

Fulfilled  and  satisfied, 

Who  could  equal  thee? 


115 


Could  I  give  birth 

To  such  a  one, 

Nay  not  like  unto  Mary's  child, 

For  that  great  glory 

I  am  most  unworthy. 

Could  I  give  birth 

To  a  little  child, 

I  know  my  heart's  pain 

Would  melt  away 

Into  an  All-Pervading  Peace. 


1  :i 


I''  i: 


ir 


:M 


i 


I 


f^i 


i  1 


116 


Songs  of  Earth 


THE  GOD  OF  GODS 

I  am  Music; 

At  first  I  sound  the  trills. 

The  grace  notes, 

The  arpeggios,  * 

These  are  but  as  foam 

Upon  the  Currents  of  Sound; 

The  Deeper  tones  are  now  vibrating 

And  struggling  to  reach  my  finger  tips. 

In  a  mad  moment  my  trembling  hands  strike  a  chord- 

And  deeper  and  deeper  for  chords  I  strive 

Until  the  Discords  of  the  Last  Hell 

Find  within  me  a  Sounding  Fork, 

Which  puts  them  in  tune; 

Once  more  I  play  upon  the  Finer  Strings, 

0  the  strength  in  the  music  of  these  Upper  Tones- 
Radiant  Beings, 

Full  of  Harmonies, 

Floating  pure  and  even. 

My  Children  of  the  Abyss. 

1  am  Song: 

For  all  ages  I  have  a  ditty, 

Come  wee  one  whilst  I  croon  to  you 

Of  silvery  lands, 

Where  the  hearts  of  roses  are  fairy-beds, 

And  the  blue-bells  toll  a  fairy's  prayer. 

I  am  The  Dance; 
The  roots  of  my  hair. 
The  tips  of  my  toes 


Songs  of  Earth 

Are  sending  each  other  messages; 

Slowly,  slowly, 

I  open  the  Budding  Flower; 

All  passions  are  revealed — 

I  am  the  Pan  God, 

The  piper  that  you  must  pay 

Yet  the  scape-goat  upon  whicli 

Man  shall  heap  all  his  vices; 

For  lo:    I  call  my  nymphs  to  dance, 

Holding  aloft  from  their  outstretched  hands 

A  Crown  of  Thorns, 

My  Horns  of  Wisdom. 

I  am  Love; 

Come  Lovers, 

Autumn  shall  appear  in  the  Woods  of  Summerland  • 

And  seizing  Summer  shall  fold  her  within  his  arms;' 

Far— far  in  the  shadows  I  shall  sing 

Of  a  love  that  never  dies 

Of  a  rapture  which  is  born  of  kisses, 

A  fire  which  lies  hidden  in  eyes. 

Come  you  Choosers  of  God ; 

For  you  am  I  a  priestess, 

For  you  I  chant  the  vespers 

Casting  aside  my  body 

To  reveal  the  Non-Being; 

I  am  the  Circle  of  Life, 

All  centres  of  fire  kindle  into  One  Flame; 

I  am  not  a  creature  of  parts 

For  all  parts  have  merged  into  One ; 

I  am  a  creator  of  all  songs. 

The  God  of  Gods. 


117 


•  ■'■ 


i   ■ 


f 


■  ! 


I 


118 


GRAVEN  IMAGES 


Songs  of  Earth 


Christianity,  Christianity,  Christianity: 

0  the  crimes  that  have  been  committed 
In  your  name: 

And  in  the  name  of  all  religions; 

The  blasted  hopes, 

The  maimed  bodies, 

The  hecatombs  of  the  dead. 

The  Broken  Wings  of  L,ove, 

The  divided  families, 

The  crushed  desires, 

Suppressed  emotions, 

The  Lusts, 

The  Thieveries, 

AH  these  to  show  God 

That  He  is  Loved; 

1  am  not  talking  of  those 

That  have  long  passed  in  the  Procession 

Carrying  the  Graven  Images  of  their  Many  Gods  before  them, 

But  of  those  who  have  been 

And  who  are  in  our  present  civilization. 

Have  done  with  it. 

Let  us  level  all  churches. 

All  places  of  worship. 

Let  us  destroy  all  rituals. 

Let  each  man  talk  to  God 

In  the  language  of  his  own  heart ; 

If  we  must  divide  ourselves 

Into  French,  Spanish,  Italian, 

German,  Austrian,  Hungarian, 

English,  Russian,  American, 

The  Jew; 

The  Protestant,  The  Catholic, 

The  Methodist,  The  Presbyterian, 

The  Baptist,  The  Unitarian, 

The  Suki,  The  Yogi; 


Songi  o£  Earth 

Mohammedanism.  Confucianism. 
And  Buddhism. 

We  cannot  so  divide  The  Holy  One; 
Thmk  you  that  you  can  pour  your  pravers 
Into  the  Ear  of  a  Protestant  God         "^ 
Imploring  Him  not  to  hear  the  Catholic? 
U  let  us  become  loving  Brother-Comrades 
Children  of  One  Father-Mother  ' 

Double-Sexed  in  body  and  soul'- 
Each  realizing  that  he  is  a  Link' 
In  One  Divine  Chain, 
Acceptable  only  to  the  Lord 
Unbroken. 


119 


THOSE  W.iOM  GOD  HATH  JOINED 
Those  whom  God  hath  joined 
Let  no  man  put  asunder"; 
The  minister  mumbles  these  words 
Over  the  millionaire's  daughter 
Sold  to  a  pauper  prince  for  his  title. 
Over  the  Adventuress 

I'vr^u^s: ""  "'"'''-^''  '•"""■" 

Over  the  boy 
Forced  to  many  the  girl 
He  made  a  mother; 
Why,  why.  why, 
This  desecration? 


Yl 


If"! 


I     ff    ] 


! 


{. 


I 


120 


Songs  of  Earth 


"Those  whom  God  hath  joined," 

Aye  God  and  man, 

Man  and  man. 

Spirit  and  matter, 

"Let  no  man  put  asunder." 


OF  MY  PASSIONS  I  AM  UNASHAMED 

Of  my  passions  I  am  unashamed, 

I  stand  before  the  multitude 

Bereft  of  any  covering 

And  I  acknowledge  all  my  desires  openly; 

Let  the  women  pass  by  with  averted  heads 

The  men  wait  until  darkness  to  come  unto  me, 

Let  the  Elders  commune  and  decide  that  I  shall  be  stoned  to 

death; 
Hark  they  sing  a  prayer 

And  as  The  High  Priest  hurls  The  First  Stone 
He  raises  his  countenance  to  His  God,  murmuring, 
"In  Thy  Name." 

And  a  Voice  from  the  Clouds  calls  out, 
"Who  told  thee  that  thou  art  without  sin?" 
A  fear  steals  over  him. 
His  lips  become  ashy. 
His  eyeballs  roll  up  into  his  head. 
His  limbs  writhe  and  twist. 
His  mouth  foams; 

"She  has  bewitched  him,  the  Sorceress,"  they  cry, 
The  Elders  bear  him  away. 


Songs  o!  Earth 


121 


Their  fingers  itch  to  reach  me, 

One  woman  breaking  through  the  line  fastens  her  nails  mto 

my  shoulder, 
Tearing  the  skin  down  to  the  waist ; 
The  sight  of  blood  drives  the  crowd  into  a  frenzy, 
"Faster,  faster,"  they  cry. 

•'I  am  digging  my  grave,  why  curse  and  threaten? 

Soon  will  it  be  deep  enough  to  hold  my  weary  body. 

Push  me  not  yet  into  it, 

A  few  more  feet  to  hollow 

Then  I  shall  go  in  and  lie  down; 

Patience,  patience.  Ye  Avengers  of  God, 

Save  your  spittle,  .u      ♦» 

Ye  may  need  it  to  moisten  your  death-rattlmg  throats 

And  I  would  not  take  it  from  ye." 

1  am  lying  against  the  mothering  breast  of  earth, 
"Courage,  dear  child,"  she  whispers,  "Soon  will  I  receive  thee 

into  my  womb  again." 
Crash:  the  stones  begin  to  fall, 
I  place  my  hands  over  my  head.  Why?    I  know  not. 
ft  gives  the  multitude  a  longer  time  to  play ; 
1  listen  to  the  dull  thuds  against  my  body, 
By  and  by  I  take  my  hands  away, 

0  I  am  so  tired : 
Finally  I  open  my  eyes, 

1  see  a  mother  giving  her  child  a  stone  to  hurl, 
I  smile  upon  the  little  one. 

My  eyelids  close — 

Presently  I  commence  to  dream—  ,  .  ,    ,.       •     *i,^ 

1   watch  the  people  covering  something  which  lies  in  the 

ground  formless. 
And  I  join  and  help  them. 
Though  thev  see  me  not. 


